What are Deflection Programs?
Deflection is a non-punitive practice where law enforcement or first responders connect individuals with unmet behavioral health, mental health, or substance use needs to community-based treatment and social services instead of arresting them. For more information about our deflection programs in Waldo County, contact Tia Poulin at tia.poulin@voanne.org.
Community Liaison
Deflection
A Community Liaison Officer (CLO) is a non-law enforcement professional who responds alongside a police officer to the scene of an emergency or other situation that would traditionally be responded to solely by law enforcement. The goal of the community liaison is to divert individuals from the traditional criminal justice system and redirect them to the most appropriate resources.
What CLOs do:
- Make community referrals
- Talk with the people involved, offer support & guidance
- Connect with family members
- Drive someone to the Emergency Department and wait with them
- Paperwork, phone calls, help complete Mainecare applications
- Help our community members with non-criminal matters
Benefits of the CLO Program:
- The creation of improved and more immediate responses to crisis situations;
- The ability to follow up with individuals, family members, and caregivers after a crisis to reduce the likelihood of further crisis situations;
- A decrease in expensive arrests and jail admissions for individuals in behavioral health crisis;
- A reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations; and more accurate on-scene needs assessments
- CLO’s free up law enforcement’s time to focus on matters related to criminal justice enforcement.
Waldo County CLOs
Justin MacDonald, LCPC
justin.macdonald@voanne.org
Danielle Michaud, MHRTC
danielle.michaud@voanne.org
Allison Richards, MHRTC
allison.richards@voanne.org
Rosie Bowman
rosie.bowman@voanne.org