Our agency has been instrumental in starting and developing many innovative programs in the Las Vegas Valley.
Our agency were the first to start and develop innovative programs like 2nd Responders, Crisis Response Team (CRT) and The Courtyard for the City of Las Vegas. We were able to show proof of concept and good outcome numbers. This gave the City of Las Vegas justification to continue the programs internally, and put more resources into them. It has been our pleasure serve in this capacity to our community.
The 2nd Responders program was a partnership with the following local fire jurisdictions: Clark County Fire Department, Henderson Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, and North Las Vegas Fire. Clients were referred by first responders in the field. Staff and professional volunteers guided developing professionals, from Social Work, Pharmacology, Nursing, Medical and Community Service colleges who work on inter-professional teams. These teams would assess the needs of the whole person. Working with the client to identify how their medical needs, pharmaceutical needs, mental health, environment, and socioeconomic status contributes to their ability to be able to access services. Clients were then provided with a referral, navigation assistance, and case management to help them acquire needed services. Our agency ran this program for 8 years. Las Vegas Fire & Rescue was able to stand up the Community Paramedic Program internally, which absorbed this program.
Crisis Response Team (CRT) team is comprised of a Firefighter-Paramedic, an Emergency Medical Technician, and a Qualified Mental Health Professional. This team goes to predesignated call types, that have been flagged as psychiatric. This team has the unique set up to address medical needs and psychiatric needs in the field. Clients in crisis are able to begin to build rapport with a mental health professional while in crisis and do not have to wait for the sometimes-lengthy process, for intake enrollment to be seen. This program is geared to reduce unnecessary legal holds in our Valley’s Emergency Departments, and give clients a path that better suites their individual need. Our agency supplied the Clinical and follow up services for this program for 5 years.
The Courtyard is a homeless resource center that offers a safe place to sleep for community members experiencing homelessness. The center offered access to employment, education, medical, and behavioral health. Our agency was the first to operate The Courtyard overnight. It is currently being expanded by the City of Las Vegas.
