Storm the Farm trail race registration open wxow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wxow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Winona gives Alternative Response final OK (6/9/2021)
The Alternative Response Team (ART) transformed from concept into contract Monday, when the Winona City Council approved the formal agreement that would form the basis for teams of mental health professionals responding alongside and possibly in lieu of police officers.
Council members unanimously approved the three-year contract between Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) and the city. HVMHC will be paid just under $175,000 in 2021 for the program, which for now consists of two mental health professionals. Officials earlier said the first teams are planned to deploy in July, and that initially the ART would be accompanied by police.
What’s involved in a typical day as a crisis team member?
“With crisis services, the days can be unpredictable, but how I support the team is as calls come in, I help with the clinical supervision aspect with our practitioners that go out and work with the clients.
“For example, when someone is in crisis, we send practitioners to their homes, and I’m available by phone to help assist the practitioner in any way that I can to make sure we meet the client’s needs, whether it’s through coping skills, resource connection or helping deescalate the crisis situation and be empathetic, listening and calming.”
Winona preps newest first responders (5/12/2021)
After months of preparation and public discussion, the city of Winona’s Alternative Response Team (ART) is finally close to fulfilling the promise of trained mental health professionals responding to emergency calls alongside police.
The details of the program are still being hashed out between the city of Winona, whose budget is footing the bill, and Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC), whose employees will be the ones going out on calls. Once contract negotiations between the city and HVMHC conclude, HVMHC can then hire the team, anticipated to take place in June. The first deployment of ART will likely take place in July.