Registration Now Open for the AMSA Virtual Conference

AMSA Talks with Theresa Nguyen, MD of Loyola Street Medicine

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REGISTRATION

AMSA members in good standing can now register for the June 5-6 virtual conference, “Advancing the Field of Alternative Response” using the blue button below.

Confirmed Speakers for the Virtual Conference

• Amy Watson, PhD - Wayne State University

• Victoria Bautista, JD - Legislative Director for Rep. Adam Smith

• Stephanie Lewis, LMFT - Alameda County Behavioral Health

• Brook Buettner, MPA, LICSW - Regional Crisis Response Agency

• Jeff Coots, JD - John Jay College

• Laquisha Grant, MPA - B-HEARD

• Earl Miller - Wildflower Alliance

• Jumaane Williams - Public Advocate for City of New York

• Candace Hanson, MA - Canopy Roots

• Alisha Eftekhari - San Diego County

• Piedad Garcia, MD - San Diego County

• Toni Jackson - Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative

• Thea Sebastian, JD - The Futures Institute

• Michelle Fernando - Council for State Governments

• Brenda MacFarlane - City of Fairbanks

• Grace Wolf - Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network

• Becky Stoll - Centerstone Tennessee

• Barry Friedman, JD - New York University Law School

• Sarah Ou, LCSW - Alameda County Behavioral Health

• Chacku Mathai - Center for Practice Innovations

• Amy Barden, Ed.D - Seattle CARE Department

• Armen Henderson, MD - Dade County Street Response

• Tahir Duckett, JD - Center for Innovations in Community Safety

Not yet a member of AMSA? Start an organizational membership today by visiting the AMSA website.

Non-members of AMSA can learn more about the virtual conference and get registered at the AMSA website.

Registration and program information for the parallel in-person conference “Advancing the Field of Alternative Response”, June 3-5 in New York City, will be available soon.

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HEADLINES

SPRINGFIELD - DOJ reaches agreement Sangamon County over Sonya Massey investigation (State Journal-Register)

One of the key elements of the agreement is the enhancement of the county's existing mobile crisis response services.

The improvements seek to deliver "more effective, immediate support for individuals in mental health crises, focusing on de-escalation and appropriate care rather than traditional law enforcement intervention," the county release said.

The initial letter from the DOJ to Sheriff Paula Crouch, State's Attorney John Milhiser and others at the county in mid-November raised "serious concerns about (the sheriff department's) interactions with Black people and people with behavioral health disabilities," along with a host of practices and procedures.

READ - Agreement between US DOJ and Sangamon County

WASHINGTON DC - Justice Department Secures Agreement with Sangamon County, Illinois; Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office; and Sangamon County Central Dispatch System Resolving Race and Disability Discrimination Investigation (press release)

LEARN - Home page of The Massey Commission, a citizens' commission established in response to the tragic killing of Sonya Massey in Sangamon County, by Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson in July 2024.

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JUNEAU - New Mobile Crisis Team Rolls Out (KTOO.org)

The team is made up of a Capital City Fire Rescue paramedic and a Bartlett Regional Hospital clinician. Crisis care consists of immediate response to a situation or crisis, further assessment of the person undergoing the emergency, stabilization, and follow-up involving other services.

Bartlett Chief Nursing Officer Kim McDowell, “It’s kind of the first window of opportunity to provide de-escalation for somebody in crisis in the field that doesn’t involve EMS or the police department.”