MPD officers, MPACT leaders attend national co-responders conference

Since its launch a few short years ago, the Marshalltown Police Department's and YSS of Marshall County's Marshalltown Police and Community Team (MPACT) program -- which embedded two social workers within the department to respond to non-emergency, non-criminal calls -- has been hailed as a major success story in a relatively small community. Recently, MPD officers Tricia Thein and Sadie Weekley along with YSS Director David Hicks and MPACT Advocate Mark Doland attended the National Co-Responders Conference in Spokane, Wash., where they had an opportunity to learn more about how other cities are using such programs and share a bit of wisdom of their own.

"I think we're as good as some of the larger cities, but there's still plenty to learn because we're new and we represent more of a rural -- they reference it as like a frontier area," Hicks said. "I just felt that it really affirmed that we're doing a good job, but there's still plenty of things we can steal."

The quartet spent four days in Spokane with the opportunity to soak in numerous breakout sessions and speakers for the fourth annual iteration of the conference. As they were representing the smallest single community in the country with two co-responders (in some western states, they cover entire counties), the Marshalltown cohort felt they brought a unique perspective to the table.

"Iowa has it pretty good, and Marshalltown has it going really good. Marshalltown has the best of all components -- officers committed to the citizens, social workers committed to helping others, and community members that are open, supportive and responsive to new problem solving ideas," Thein said. "I guess I always knew that, but this training confirmed it for me."

Weekley admitted to harboring a bit of initial skepticism about a co-responder program in Marshalltown, but after a few years, she has nothing but good things to say about it.

"It was a very new concept around the country and at the time, I was not aware of any other departments doing it in Iowa," she said. "My outlook has changed. It has been nothing but a positive experience. It frees up officers for more emergent calls and also sometimes avoids officers being dispatched all together to calls that do not have a criminal element."

Thein has a similar outlook.

"Co-responding best meets the needs of community members, ensuring top notch service to those in need, and has been a huge asset as far as case management goes for individuals that need assistance in connecting with resources," she said. "The co-response has taken the burden off of law enforcement regarding non-police related matters."

Doland added that because of the nature of the job, putting a value on some of the work they do -- one example he cited was he and fellow advocate Autumn Drewelow helping a young family move from one place to another after they were evicted -- can be difficult, but anytime they can divert a hospital visit or a jail stint, they consider it worthwhile.

Hicks said attending the conference reinforced his belief that YSS and the advocates are fortunate to have such a strong working relationship with the MPD, as that same bond isn't always apparent in other places.

Thein also noted that in her view, the speakers at the conference did not try to push for a one size fits all approach.

"The takeaway is that there is no 100% this way -- it is whatever way it works for your agency and community to make a positive difference in the lives of those that we serve," she said.

With Drewelow moving into a new role with YSS and another advocate taking her place, one benefit of attending the conference will be improved initial training for those who come to the job. While Doland came in with over 25 years of experience in related fields, he hopes this will help to acclimate younger advocates more smoothly.

"It's still kind of undefined, but I went to one of the breakout sessions where they actually have a field training officer program for the new advocates that are coming in where the first phase is they are working with and shadowing the MPACT worker," Doland said. "In this case, the second phase is the MPACT worker is shadowing them and helping them to make decisions as they go and is just more there as a consultant. The third week, a supervisor would go with them, which would be like Ryan (Keller) or David or somebody, and then they're on their own in the fourth phase and cut loose."

Going forward, another major goal will be utilizing opioid settlement dollars to assist with the costs of operating a co-responder program, and Hicks aims to "monetize" the data they've gained to show the value of MPACT in Marshalltown -- which he did during a presentation at the most recent city council meeting. For example, keeping four people out of Iowa prisons for a year (the estimated cost of housing and feeding an inmate is around $38,000 annually), they've already covered the $150,000 expense of the program. Additionally, an emergency room visit costs at least $1,300 if the individual is uninsured, and a mental health hold will cost $10,000 a week for those who are insured and $20,000 for those without insurance.

"We've kept a lot of people out of the hospital," Hicks said. "There's certain people saying 'How much are we saving? We've given them $150,000. It seems like a waste of money,' but it's an investment."

The way Doland put it, every dollar spent toward diversion and prevention will see a return of at least $9, and both Weekley and Thein count themselves among those who hope to see MPACT expand even further.

"Having 24/7 coverage would be ideal and is not possible with just two advocates," she said.