Jan. 10: Mental Health Response Advisory Committee (MHRAC)

Covered by Documenter Ava Carubia (notes)

Specialized training for Cleveland police officers continues

The Mental Health Response Advisory Committee (MHRAC) met this month to firm up its goals for 2025, which include continuing to support Cleveland’s response to mental health crises. The committee was created by the consent decree – or agreement – the city signed with the U.S. Department of Justice to help carry out police reform.

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is part of a national program that brings together mental health agencies, advocacy organizations and law enforcement with the goal of improving police response to crisis calls stemming from mental health issues. 

One core element of the program is to help divert people experiencing mental health crises from the criminal legal system, according to Ruth Simera, executive director for the Northeast Ohio Medical University’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence. 

Both Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry and Norma Herr Women’s Shelter receive high volumes of CIT calls, according to Angela Cecys, a public health and safety strategist for Cleveland who is on the committee. She said they are working with the two agencies to provide support. 

So far, 147 officers have received specialized crisis intervention training, Cleveland Police Lieutenant John Mullin said. Of those, 114 are actively on patrol. There are three training sessions scheduled through the end of the year. MHRAC partners with the Cuyahoga County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Service (ADAHMS) Board on some training.

Shifting focus toward kids

MHRAC has a subcommittee dedicated to youth issues. One respondent from the survey said there has been an increase in youth CIT calls – and in youth calls across the board. More police are engaging young people in crisis, they wrote. 

The subcommittee plans to gather more robust data around youth in 2025, according to Bree Easterling, who has long advocated for non-police crisis response in Cleveland. 

Survey says…

MHRAC also reviewed its end-of-year survey, which 16 members completed. On a scale of one to 10 – the highest being 10 – the average satisfaction rate from surveyed members was about 6.6. 

Half of the respondents said they attended every full committee meeting in 2024. For the most part, members said they missed only one meeting due to scheduling conflicts. 

The survey also asked members to share concerns and potential solutions for the future. For example, people shared concerns about the lack of engagement from committee members in general and specifically with the Community Engagement Subcommittee. 

Cecys said that the subcommittee meetings were not well attended. Multiple respondents mentioned the lack of funding to host events or print materials. Some said the subcommittee lacks focus and follow-through on ideas. 

In hopes of increasing community engagement, Cecys said the subcommittee wants to work with the Cleveland Community Police Commission in 2025.

Read the notes from Documenter Ava Carubia

Mental Health Response Advisory Committee (MHRAC) – Mental Health Response Advisory Committee (MHRAC) Meeting 01_10_2025Download
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Service Journalism Reporter (she/her)
I am dedicated to untangling bureaucracy so Clevelanders can have the information (and the power) they want. I spent 10 years on the frontlines of direct service working with youth and system-impacted communities before receiving my degree in media advocacy at Northeastern University.

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