We’re at a crossroads of alternative in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Proceed ahead on the identical path? Proceed to fail our residents. Let’s as a substitute empower our new County Govt Chris Ronayne to make our communities safer, get monetary savings, and supply our residents acceptable care.
Let’s help Care Response, a program the place a psychological well being knowledgeable responds to emergency psychological well being disaster calls as a substitute of police, in order that an unwell resident leads to care, as a substitute of jail.
Do you know: Addicted or unwell individuals rapidly branded as criminals are pulled into an “unjustice system” that punishes them as a substitute of offering actual help?
Do you know: Greater than 40% of these in our nation’s native jails have a historical past of psychological sickness, based on the Nationwide Alliance on Psychological Sickness?
Do you know: Folks hooked on alcohol and medicines who commit crimes underneath the affect, if supported correctly, can heal and discover a new lifestyle?
Now you realize. What is going to you do? Demand that sources be reallocated to this? Let your metropolis and county leaders know that you simply endorse Care Response applications for our communities. Let’s create a future the place help options win over punishment and retribution.
Renee Copfer,
Westlake
