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Centerstone and Venice Police Department partner to launch new mental health crisis response program

Centerstone and Venice Police Department partner to launch new mental health crisis response program

Venice, Fla. — Centerstone, a nonprofit leader in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, has been awarded a grant to launch a new mental health crisis response program in partnership with the Venice Police Department.

The initiative, titled Behavioral Response and Community Engagement (BRACE) –Venice, will support the creation of a civilian-led response team that diverts non-violent, mental health-related 911 calls away from law enforcement and toward trained mental health professionals.

Through BRACE, Centerstone Navigators will provide rapid, on-site emotional de-escalation, well-being assessments, and direct connections to ongoing behavioral health and social support services. The goal is to reduce unnecessary hospital visits, arrests, and repeated 911 calls, while increasing access to early intervention and ongoing care, especially for older adults, youth, and residents in rural areas who face barriers to traditional services.

The BRACE–Venice pilot program will include:

  • A co-response model with the Venice Police Department, with eventual transition to Navigator-led calls
  • A two-person team of Centerstone Navigators dispatched to mental health-related 911 calls
  • In-person response within 30 minutes, or phone support within 15 minutes
  • Clinical consultation by licensed Centerstone staff for higher-risk situations
  • Data tracking and evaluation using the Harvard Flourishing Measure Index to assess client outcomes

By embedding mental health professionals into the emergency response system, BRACE offers a proactive, person-centered alternative to traditional crisis response, strengthening the continuum of care and addressing root causes of distress, such as isolation, trauma, and lack of access to support.

The BRACE–Venice program also benefits from the strength of Centerstone’s Suncoast network, which offers a full continuum of behavioral health services across seven counties, including mobile response, outpatient care, residential treatment, and specialized services for veterans and youth.

About Centerstone:
Centerstone is a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments for people of all ages. Services are available in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee through the operation of outpatient clinics, residential programs, school-based services, telehealth, and an inpatient hospital. Centerstone also offers specialized programs available nationwide for the military community, as well as services for children, including therapeutic foster care. Centerstone’s Institute provides guidance through research and technology, leveraging the best evidence-based practices for use across our communities. Centerstone’s Foundation secures philanthropic resources to support the work and mission of delivering care that changes people’s lives. Learn more by visiting Centerstone.org.

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Additional Info

Media Contact : Helen.Leon@centerstone.org

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