by Rose Nemunaitis:
Leaders across Geauga County are taking a major step to save lives when seconds matter in a mental-health crisis, uniting dispatchers, deputies and behavioral-health professionals.
The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office recently hosted a groundbreaking meeting with Ravenwood Health, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services aimed to more tightly link 911 emergency services with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“The heart of this project is collaboration,” GCSO Crisis Response Director Tracy Jordan said. “The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers and deputies, Ravenwood Health’s clinicians and my role as crisis response director are all pieces of one system. Together, we are making sure that when someone in our community is in crisis, they get the right help, at the right time, from the right people. That’s what makes this so powerful.”
There is no single launch date. Instead, the rollout will occur in phases over the next 12 to 18 months to strengthen the connection between 911 dispatch and 988 crisis response, said Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand.
Dispatchers already communicate regularly with Ravenwood clinicians and that coordination will continue to expand, he said.
“Several larger metro areas like Cleveland and Columbus are building out 911/988 connections, but Geauga County is one of the first smaller, more rural counties to take this on,” Hildenbrand said. “Our sheriff’s office and Ravenwood partnership is being looked at as a model for how rural communities can make this work.”
Under the plan, if someone calls 911 because a loved one is suicidal, dispatchers can quickly transfer the call to Ravenwood’s 988 crisis counselors. Instead of sending only deputies, a mental-health team is brought in immediately while deputies remain ready if safety is a concern, the sheriff said.
Similarly, if a call comes in about someone experiencing a mental-health crisis in public, deputies can respond alongside Ravenwood’s mobile crisis team, he said.
“This allows law enforcement to focus on safety, while clinicians address the behavioral health needs,” Hildenbrand said.
This partnership gives dispatchers and deputies a direct link to behavioral health professionals, so they’re not left carrying the full weight of mental-health crises, Jordan said.
“At the same time, Ravenwood clinicians don’t have to step into unsafe situations alone,” she said. “It’s a true team effort where each partner can focus on their expertise.”
Her role, which she started July 1, is to ensure the systems, training and partnerships work together seamlessly.
Combining mental-health expertise with law enforcement will ensure individuals in crisis receive appropriate care, said GCBMRC Director Christine Lakomiak.
“This partnership helps to de-escalate situations, guides callers to 988 for non-emergency behavioral health support and enhances outcomes for those experiencing behavioral health emergencies,” Lakomiak said. “Working with our sheriff’s office is truly exceptional, as their collaborative spirit and dedication to our community safety create a supportive environment for effective partnerships. Their commitment to open communication and teamwork makes every joint effort seamless and impactful.”
Next steps include joint dispatcher-crisis-team training, new referral pathways to speed connections to care and a public education campaign to help residents understand when to call 911 and when to call 988. Ravenwood will lead that outreach.
“The increasing visibility of the mental-health crisis in the news highlights growing awareness and as a nation, we’re making strides by improving access to resources like 988 and fostering collaborations between behavioral health professionals and law enforcement to better support those in need,” Lakomiak said. “The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has effectively developed, implemented and operationalized the 988 system, providing all Ohioans with accessible, life-saving mental-health and crisis support services.”
