What is the PACT program?

PACT stands for Pitkin Area Co-Responder Teams, a collaborative community program between law enforcement and mental health professionals. The co-responder team jointly responds to calls where substance abuse and/or mental health challenges may exist.

Who makes up the PACT team?

• A co-responder, who is a licensed mental health clinician. 
• Local police officers and deputies from Aspen Police Department, Snowmass Village Police Department, and Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office. 
• A case manager and a peer specialist from Mind Springs Health. 

How does the PACT program work?

1. On scene, the mental health co-responder works with officers and deputies to help stabilize the situation and to develop a plan to help.
2. A full-time case manager follows up after the co-response and manages the plan. This may involved:
   • Helping with transportation to doctor appointments
   • Making sure they get their medications
   • Helping navigate legal issues
   • Assisting with access to economic assistance or other community services
   • Coordinating access to counseling, group support, and/or treatment
   • Providing resources to loved ones and to add another layer of support 
3. A half-time peer specialist, who has lived with and overcome their own personal mental health challenges, is available during police calls or afterwards to provide support and to act as a role-model and advocate.
   

What are PACT’s goals?

• To de-criminalize mental illness.
• To reduce incarcerations of low-level offenders with mental illness. 
• To decrease emergency room visits for mental health care. 
• To reduce repeat police calls for individuals in need of community-based services and mental health support. 

PACT in the Media

Breaking down stigmas and stereotypes: Snowmass, Aspen public safety officials work to better address mental health within their departments, communities...

Pilot program aims to get assistance for low-level offenders

PACT program on Grassroots TV