The week of May 12, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, alongside local law enforcement partners, announced the latest community mental health partnership to combat the cycle of crisis, Operation: COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team). Operation: COAST is a mental health partnership with local law enforcement partners in Palm Beach County that:

• Deploys peer responders and therapists alongside the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in response to mental health-related 911 calls.
• De-escalates situations that otherwise would have resulted in unnecessary Baker Acts or
• Alleviates overutilization of the 911 system as a mental health
• Provides law enforcement partners an appropriate place to take those in crisis to get specialized and immediate outpatient psychiatric care at the Health Care District’s Community Health Center in northeast West Palm Currently, over 80% of COAST drop-offs are complete in 20 minutes, allowing critical front-line law enforcement to efficiently protect and serve.
• Gives patients a medical home through the Health Care District for continued comprehensive and psychiatric outpatient care to prevent additional crises and support overall wellness.

“Before Operation: COAST, law enforcement only had two tools in their toolbox when responding to crisis calls: hospitalization or jail. Within six months, less than 2% of Operation: COAST patients transported to our Community Health Center required a Baker Act,” said Darcy J. Davis, President and CEO of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. “Together, we’re strengthening crisis response and making mental health care more accessible and upstream - before situations become emergencies.”

“Over 300 patients have been served through Operation: COAST,” said Courtney Phillips, MD, Vice President of Behavioral Health at the Health Care District. “That’s 300 people who could have been another unnecessary Baker Act, hospitalization, or incarceration. To put that into perspective, that’s how many people were Baker Acted over three times in a 180-day period in Palm Beach County between 2023 and 2024. The evidence is clear. By joining forces with our law enforcement partners under Operation: COAST, this is just the beginning of a sustainable and monumental program that is already saving lives.”

The first five law enforcement agencies to sign onto Operation: COAST were recognized by Health Care District President and CEO Darcy J. Davis for their leadership and awarded for their commitment to mental health in Palm Beach County:

• West Palm Beach Police Department
• Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
• Palm Beach Gardens Police Department
• Riviera Beach Police Department
• North Palm Beach Police Department

“At the end of this month, all my officers, sergeants and detectives will have gone through the Health Care District’s mental health responder training,” said Chief Dominick Pape, Palm Beach Gardens Police Department and President of the Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police. “We see it as a force multiplier and an outstanding tool in our toolbox.”

“With passion and partnerships, this initiative demonstrates the power of community collaboration and addressing complex social challenges,” said Chief Michael Coleman, Riviera Beach Police Department.

Among the nearly 100 community leaders and law enforcement officials who attended were Florida Rep. Meg Weinberger; Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Marino; Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss; Alexcia Cox, Palm Beach County State Attorney; Daniel Eisinger, Palm Beach County Public Defender and Mayor Keith James, City of West Palm Beach, which was the first city to embrace the partnership.

“One of the most significant things that we have witnessed is the Health Care District Behavioral Health team’s compassionate and non-judgmental approach,” said Deputy Chief Angela Dallesandro, North Palm Beach Police Department. “Through this partnership, we have an opportunity to connect to people in the community with this next level source of hope and support.”

The Health Care District’s community health centers offer adult and pediatric psychiatric care 7

a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including weekends. Call 561-642-1000 for an appointment or walk in. For more information on services, please visit WeCareForAllPBC.org.