Abstract
Police culture and social work practice have traditionally existed in tension, often reflecting conflicting values, goals, and approaches to working with vulnerable populations. Despite these differences, innovative collaborations have begun to emerge that seek to bridge the gap between law enforcement and social services. This study examines the experiences of organizational leaders and team members who successfully developed and implemented a Crisis-Intervention Response Team (CIRT) within a municipal police department. The CIRT program was established four years ago with the initial placement of a single social work intern and has since expanded into four full-time teams consisting of paired social workers and police officers. To evaluate the implementation process, 11 qualitative interviews were conducted with program leadership and active team members, including seven officers and four social service advocates. Participants reflected on lessons learned throughout the development of the program, highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges. Findings indicate that collaborative strategies rooted in transparency, communication, and partnership with university stakeholders were critical to facilitating organizational buy-in and program sustainability. Respondents also noted significant cultural changes within the department over the four-year period, including increased compassion toward community members experiencing mental health crises, greater openness to officer wellness initiatives, and shifts in recruitment practices favoring individuals supportive of integrated approaches. Persistent challenges include concerns about long-term funding, difficulties in maintaining consistent officer participation, and barriers to recruiting and retaining qualified social service staff. Overall, results illustrate how cross-disciplinary collaboration can promote cultural transformation within traditionally rigid law enforcement environments.
Presenters
Kimberly StaussProfessor, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas, Arkansas, United States Mark Plassmeyer
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas, Arkansas, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Social Work, Police Departments, Crisis Intervention
