By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Prairie View Inc. of Newton has received a $2,000 grant from Hillsboro Community Foundation to work more closely with Hillsboro Police Department to provide enhanced preventive services.

Law enforcement officers report that up to 35 percent of community interactions are behavioral health related.

“Working more closely with law enforcement is an important next step in improving and enhancing community health, safety, and wellness,” said Eric Schrag, director of advancement at Prairie View.

The goal is to improve connections and speed up the referral process so that mental health needs can be addressed before the situation becomes a crisis, resulting in emergency room visits and court expenses.

“Our goal is that individuals can get the right help at the right time,” Schrag said.

Patrick Flaming, director of access services at Prairie View, said the grant would allow Prairie View to continue collaborating with the Hillsboro Police Department and to provide more preventative services.

If law enforcement is concerned about someone in the community, they can submit a one-page form to Prairie View, asking them to contact the person and provide therapy.

Prairie View will provide same day or next day outpatient therapy, he said.

“This therapy can often help a person,” Flaming said.

Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning is supportive and on- board with the enhanced collaboration, which has been ongoing for several months.

He said individuals who are found to be suicidal need crisis intervention, with a trip to the hospital, assessment by Prairie View, and ongoing services. If the enhanced collaboration could help these individuals before they got to that state, it would be a good thing, he said.

“I appreciate Dan Kinning’s willingness to collaborate with us, as well as the entire Hillsboro community, including schools and hospital,” Flaming said.