(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A plan by the city of Evanston to change the emergency response in mental health emergencies has hit a snag.
The city has explored the idea of having social workers respond, rather than police officers, when someone is having a mental-health crisis.
But nobody reportedly has expressed an interest in doing the job. Ald. Cicely Fleming said the city is reaching out to social-service agencies to see if they may be able to do the work.
Mayor Daniel Biss, who was elected after the plan was approved, asked why police wouldn’t be paired with social workers. Fleming said this is what the community wants.
Evanston reports $200,000 was budgeted for this year for a pilot program. The plan had been to hire two social workers and two community members with experience in mental health.
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