A mental health center project spearheaded by both Cook County and the city of Chicago has opened on the city’s South Side in response to an issue law enforcement and the Cook County Jail staff see regularly.
The Community Triage Center, a former police district office, has been transformed into a mental health facility—including new safe rooms to assess those in need of mental health assistance. The partnership between the city and county also extends to more training for police officers to recognize who’s in need of help.
“I have spoken to many police officers over the years who have arrested people that they would have rather put into treatment,” said Cook County public defender Amy Campanelli.
The facility is located at East 115th Street and South Indiana Avenue in the city's Roseland neighborhood.
Dr. Kenya Key, the chief psychologist of Cook County Hospital, knows how helpful that assessment can be.
“Jail is not a therapeutic environment to provide mental health care,” she said.
The CTC will be open year round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week—a chance to diminish a criminal situation from a mental health need.
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“We’re imagining this will reduce the need for emergency room services, or jail services, both of which are quite a bit more expensive,” said Dr. Jay Shannon of Cook County Hospital.
