A mental health co-responder has been riding alongside Tamaqua police officers as they answer calls.

Caitlyn Ashelman began providing help to borough residents in crisis in mid-November.

“In a moment where things are extremely overwhelming, it is my goal to provide support and help however I can,” said Ashelman, who’s employed by Schuylkill County’s crisis provider, the Center for Community Resources in Pottsville.

She works daily from the Tamaqua department thanks to an approximate $230,000 grant secured from the U.S. Bureau of Justice by Schuylkill County Mental Health/Development Services and the department.

“As soon as the officers get a call, I am right there with them,” Ashelman said.

Her assistance lessens the time police need to stay at a scene — and means police don’t have wait for an outside agency to address mental health issues or other crises.

“On many instances I go with officers in their patrol vehicles to a call. In some instances, police officers will ‘clear the scene’ and move on to their next call,” Ashelman said. “This allows the officers to be more available in the community.”

She remains to assess the individual’s needs and connect them with resources.

It’s a help, she said, because not all officers know how to effectively assist a person experiencing a mental health crisis.

“A co-responder is there to verbally de-escalate, provide support, complete assessments, complete referrals and more,” Ashelman said.

Depending on the individual’s needs, referrals might be made to outpatient mental health services, outpatient drug and alcohol services, case management, peer support or community-based services.

“Another task that I can assist with is family debriefings. When losing a loved one, it is a difficult time. My role is to help families by providing support and assisting with any needs during that hard time,” Ashelman said.

No matter the situation, Ashelman said her goal is to provide support both in the moment and into the future.

“After I make contact with an individual, I keep in touch with them in the following days. Having someone touch base with you and provide support following is something that does not happens in policing,” she said.

She noted that there are times when a person doesn’t want help immediately.

“My checking in on them and following up may give them time to think about what would be best for them,” she said.

She’s found that many are grateful to have someone to talk to.

“Some people don’t always feel comfortable talking to a police officer about personal things,” Ashelman said. “When I arrive with the officers, I do my best to be empathetic and listen.”

Once folks get the help they need, they often stop repeat calls to police.

Ashelman graduated from Penn State University in 2021, where she studied criminal justice and rehabilitation and human services. She began her career in corrections and joined a crisis intervention team.

“While on CIT, I realized my passion was helping people remove themselves from the criminal justice system and get the help they need to thrive,” she said. “My position in Tamaqua allows me to divert individuals from criminal justice involvement in situations where social services or crisis intervention would be more effective.”

Schuylkill County Mental Health had been working to bring a co-responder program to the county for the past few years.

Officials said the goal is to continue to find ways to fund the program even when the grant ends.