Positions for pilot program pay in the $92,000 to $115,500 range.
SAN MATEO, CA — Less than a month after city officials backed a pilot program described as a “compassionate approach” to law enforcement, the San Mateo Police Department is trying to help put the Community Wellness and Crisis Response Pilot Project in motion.
The police department Tuesday issued a call for mental health workers to apply for newly created positions responding to mental health-related service calls that are not criminal nature. (Shutterstock)
The police department Tuesday issued a call for mental health workers to apply for newly created positions responding to mental health-related service calls that are not criminal nature.
San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors last month approved the two-year pilot program in an effort to diffuse volatile 9-1-1 crisis calls.
The program aims to provide care to those in need while lessening the burden on already taxed jails and hospital emergency rooms.The program also be administered in Redwood City, South San Francisco and Daly City, which along with San Mateo are the San Mateo County’s fourth largest cities by population.
Under a cost-sharing agreement, the four cities together will contribute $408,388 and the County will contribute $468,388 for a total cost of $876,776 in the program’s first year and a two-year total of approximately $1.5 million.
The psychiatric social worker II/marriage & family therapist II-crisis response-limited term positions the county seeks to fill pay in the $92,000 to $115,500 range.
The SMPD made the callout on its Facebook page Tuesday.
“We are eager to start pairing Mental Health Clinicians with our Officers to handle calls for service that are mental health oriented vs. criminal in nature; however, we need to hire them first. That’s where you come in!” the department said.
