Thanks to a coordinated effort from Clear Creek EMS, the Clear Creek County Department of Human Services, Board of County Commissioners and law enforcement including the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Clear Creek County is excited to announce the official launching of the Clear Creek Health Assistance Team, or CCHAT.

The team will start with two providers, a community paramedic and a Licensed Crisis Clinician, who will be in service 40 hours per week. The goal is to gather data that will help the County understand the overall need, in addition to coverage and staffing resources required.

Analyzing this much-needed data will allow staff to make informed adjustments to the level and frequency of service moving forward. When the CCHAT is not staffed and this type of call comes in, the Jefferson Center for Mental Health will be able to respond to fill the gap. The CCHAT will be overseen by Clear Creek EMS and housed at Station 1A in Dumont.

The CCHAT is a well-researched, innovative concept where first responders can effectively help and respond to an increasing number of challenging calls made to 911. Last year, those calls represented 15-20 percent of total 911 calls. Clear Creek EMS’s oversight of the CCHAT will provide the ability to bridge the gap between the many County programs with the individuals who would benefit the most. The Community Integrated Health Care Service, Service, Clear Creek EMS’s most recent licensure, will serve as the driving tool to integrate all facets of patient care in Clear Creek County.

“This is a very exciting partnership with multiple entities that will do a lot of good for the community,” Clear Creek Health Assistance Team Director Clark Church said. “I want people in the community to know that we are there to help you when you need it most, and there is no shame in asking for help.”

The CCHAT will also provide outreach to community members with known history with law enforcement or EMS, or those who have co-occurring disorders, in addition to outreach to areas where community members may need support connecting with services, and resource navigation. The types of calls that CCHAT handles are disturbances, indecent exposure, intoxicated persons, Safe2Tell, suicidal persons, psychiatric calls, trespassing, unwanted parties, and welfare checks. The goal is to reduce arrests and contact with law enforcement when a community member is experiencing a nonviolent crisis, reduce ER visits, connect at-risk community members with services, and reduce costs.

Clear Creek EMS is also looking for community members to serve on the CCHAT Resource Committee. This committee will discuss current operations and barriers to care for the CCHAT team. It will also work to maximize positive outcomes and find solutions to provide the most help to residents and visitors of Clear Creek County. This committee will provide an opportunity to hear both professional and community perspectives regarding access to services relating to CCHAT activities. If you are interested in applying to be on the committee, email a letter of intent to cchat@clearcreekems.com.

Finally, a Town Hall forum will be held on September 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the Board of County Commissioners meeting room (405 Argentine Street, Georgetown) where residents can learn and ask questions about CCHAT along with the County budget.