07/30/2024 09:54:01 AMHannah Van SickleDr. Sarah Abbott, Chief Lester Baker, Bonnie Cuccaro (left to right)

Since mid-May, the Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health (CRBH) at William James College has been active, celebrating milestones and extending their expertise on the Co-Response Model to metro regions beyond Massachusetts. CRBH Director Sarah E. Abbott, PhD, introduced Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker at the College’s Commencement, honoring their two-decade partnership. Together, they've expanded the Co-Response Model, which pairs police with mental health professionals, aiming to divert non-violent offenders into community-based services. The model, supported by a new grant and a formal partnership with the Framingham Police Department, now includes statewide training and assistance. Abbott and her team presented their work at national conferences, trained Washington, DC's Metropolitan Police Department, and prepared to launch the model in Ireland. Their efforts underscore a collaborative approach, enhancing crisis response and behavioral health support, benefiting law enforcement, mental health providers, and students.

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