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Task Force Members to Discuss Recommendations to be Included in the Written Report

The ���������� State Office of Mental Health today announced that members of the  will conduct a virtual meeting at 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, to discuss recommendations to be included in a written report. In addition to reviewing recommendations, Task Force members will discuss their next steps during the meeting, which will be .

The Task Force was established in response to the death of 41-year-old Daniel Prude in 2020 and is charged with developing recommendations to guide behavioral health crisis response and explore avenues for related diversion services. Following its inaugural meeting in August 2023, the task force convened numerous meetings, including some featuring presentations on different behavioral health crisis response models to inform their work.

Additionally, the task force conducted multiple listening sessions across the state, providing an opportunity for members to hear directly from ����������ers about their views on enhancing behavioral health crisis responses. These sessions also solicited input on the best practices for engaging individuals in crisis, with a specific emphasis on equity.

Task force members have established core principles for developing a health-led crisis response system to effectively address disparities and service gaps in the system. 

“The Task Force has heard from mental health practitioners, local government officials, first responders, legal and lay advocates, and people with lived experience,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner and Task Force Chair Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “This input was incredibly helpful in developing core principles, which are now guiding our recommendations. As members of the Task Force, we collectively look forward to finalizing recommendations that meet the needs of ����������’s communities.”