Buffalo County, Nebraska has a population of about 50,000, making it Nebraska’s fifth most populous county.
In 2022, Buffalo County launched a Kearney and Buffalo County Co-Responder Unit to strengthen its crisis response. The Unit is the result of a unique, collaborative effort of the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, the Kearney Police Department, Lutheran Family Services and Region III Behavioral Health Services and consists of a co-responder and a community outreach coordinator. The county expects to see an increase in capacity to respond to mental health calls through recovered time for patrol officers. Cohort 2021.
Program Goals
Through funding from the grant, the co-responder and community outreach coordinator positions aim to accomplish the following:
- Co-responders accompany law enforcement officers responding to calls from residents who appear to have a behavioral health concern; they assess the immediate needs of individuals on the spot and help de-escalate the situation
- Community outreach coordinators provide direct support and referral services; they assist in connecting people to appropriate mental health, substance use, and medical providers; respond to written referrals received from officers after an encounter; follow up in-person with individuals who need mental or behavioral health services and continue to check on the wellbeing of those served
Key Partnership Organizations
Kearney Police Department | Lutheran Family Services | Region III Behavioral Health Services
Learn More
Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office
Kearney/Buffalo County Crisis Co-Responder ProgramMental Health Pros Join Kearney/Buffalo
The next stage in helping our communities provide safety, hope, and wellbeing is to increase the presence of mental health professionals in departments in more communities. For many people in crisis – whether it’s a resident experiencing an emotional episode, medication issue, or dealing with a loved one who is in danger of hurting oneself or someone in their proximity – most people’s first instinct is to call 911. (KGFW)
Brad Negrete
Director of Urgent and Crisis Response Services, Lutheran Family Services