The SMA Healthcare Foundation (Foundation) is pleased to announce that Macy’s has donated $10,000 to assist with the collaborative crisis response program between SMA Healthcare (SMA) and the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD).
“Community is at the heart of our Macy’s team and giving back is in our DNA,” said Kristen Twomey, store manager of Macy’s. “We are honored to provide support to such an incredible organization, whose impactful work plays a vital role in strengthening and enriching our community.”
The funds are provided to purchase iPads for the Virtual Mental Health Crisis Response Team for First Responders, which will be used to help DBPD officers connect people in need of help with trained mental health professionals. Using the secure telehealth platform allows law enforcement officers or the person in crisis to reach a live mental health professional 24/7, at the scene of the incident.
It is the intent of both SMA and the DBPD to fully resource a crisis response team to respond to non-criminal emergency 911 calls, in an effort to reduce confrontations involving police officers, save money and potentially lives, allowing police to concentrate on law enforcement. As SMA and DBPD continue to work out all the details, SMA staff Jennifer Stephenson (Senior Director of Outpatient Services) and Mellonese Mayfield (Director of Crisis Response Team) took the time to meet with officers at each shift change and provide additional information about SMA’s Crisis Response Team, which will play an essential role in the program.
“I am extremely excited about this new initiative and partnership with SMA Healthcare” said Chief Jakari Young, DBPD. “These iPads will allow us to provide immediate access to a mental health professional for those in our community experiencing a mental health crisis. Our officers now have another problem solving tool that will allow us to better assist our community. I want to express our sincere gratitude to Macy’s for the purchase of these iPads and to SMA Healthcare for providing the expertise that will save lives.”