Dutchess County Establishing Threat Assessment Group
Poughkeepsie, NY… Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced today the County is underway with the establishment of the multidisciplinary Threat Assessment and Advisory Group – the Dutchess County TAG, following approval from the Dutchess County Legislature. The goal of the TAG is
to increase communications across prevention, treatment and response entities and to serve as central point of information coordination about potential risks of violence to help prevent traumatic events, including loss of life, in the community.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Mental health and crisis situations are at the forefront of our national awareness. In Dutchess County we want to stay ahead of potential tragedies and find individuals who may be on the brink of a crisis to get the help they desperately need. Our new Threat Assessment Group will bring together local agencies and community organizations to help identify potential situations that present higher risk and, in turn, protect the safety and wellbeing of our residents.”
The TAG will be comprised of mental health professionals, law enforcement and emergency response personnel, domestic violence agencies, veterans’ services, as well as representatives from the faith-based and school communities. Its goal is to balance the safety needs of the community with the health and wellness needs of the individual exhibiting risk behaviors with a proactive response, acting as a central point of information and assessment related to threat cases. Any participating agency can bring a case with significant risk factors and warning behaviors to the TAG. The group will make recommendations with suggested interventions and case management strategies, and members can offer resources to assist with the specific case.
Jean-Marie Niebuhr, LCSW-R, Deputy Commissioner for the County’s Department of Behavioral and Community Health said, “Dutchess County is blessed to have many dedicated agencies working to help people who are struggling with mental health, substance use and other behavioral challenges, but there is always more to be done. Cases can be challenging and complex. Bringing various agencies together to establish stronger lines of communications with the opportunity to share information, ideas, experiences and concerns in a problem-solving environment will allow us to hopefully see the full picture of what an individual is facing and how we can synergize our actions to find solutions that get them the help they need before they do harm to themselves or others.”
The TAG will operate under an Inter-Municipal agreement (IMA), which will require County Legislature approval, and County Executive Molinaro will forward a resolution for the Legislature’s vote at its August board meeting. Once approved, training for the TAG, as well as assistance in developing policies and procedures, will be provided by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYS DHSES) and the Office of Mental Hygiene (OMH). Initial members of the TAG as outlined in the resolution include:
Bard College
Culinary Institute of America
Dutchess Community College
Dutchess County BOCES
Marist College
Vassar College
Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie
Family Services, Inc
Grace Smith House
Hudson River Housing
Mental Health America of Dutchess
PEOPLE, Inc
Rehabilitation Support Services, Inc.
NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH)
DC Behavioral & Community Health
DC Community & Family Services
DC District Attorney
DC Emergency Response
DC Probation
DC Public Defender
DC Veterans Services
DC Sheriff’s Office
NYS Police Troop K
City of Beacon Police Department
City of Poughkeepsie Police Department
Town of Poughkeepsie Police Dept
Town of East Fishkill Police Department
Town of Fishkill Police Department
Town of Hyde Park Police Department
