Co-Responder, Reaching HOPE 

• The primary goal of this minor rotation is to teach interns how to respond, evaluate, and treat crises using evidence-based evaluations and therapies.
• Learn how to work within a police department.
• Obtain knowledge to determine level of care -including mental health holds, and how to apply the appropriate holds to people in mental health crises.
• Collaborate with case managers and police officers.
• Provide prevention workshops and groups to support a reduction in 911 calls

• To understand how to recognize crises and use evidenced based skills to provide containment.
• To learn about providing wrap-around services.
• To learn how to navigate within a police department.
• To learn how to safety plan with high-risk clients.
• To learn about mental health/substance use holds.

 

Required:

• Interns are required to attend one day per week at Brighton or Federal Heights Police Department (8:30AM-6:30PM)
• Interns will respond to mental health calls with police officers. They will assess, evaluate, and treat mental health crises. They will complete safety plans, determine necessary levels of care, and complete the appropriate documentation.
• Interns will conduct workshops and group therapy with community members referred by the Federal Heights/Brighton Co-response teams. The group topics will include (but are not limited to):
  • Distress Tolerance
  • Mindfulness
  • Emotion Regulation
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness
  • Substance Use (Relapse Prevention)
  • Grief
  • Interns will also participate in weekly didactics.

Optional:

• If the intern has an interest and time available, there may be an opportunity to get involved in co-responder research/presentations. There are various trainings and conferences scheduled for the 2025-2026 calendar year that may be available for interested students.

Citizens of Brighton experiencing mental health crises.

Interns will be provided didactic materials (selected readings) to help them learn about basic trauma work, de-escalation, and mental health holds. The intern will have weekly one-on-one and group supervision. They will collaborate with supervisors to complete case conceptualizations and identify appropriate level of care and wrap-around services.