By Winston Salem Times |
Mar 18, 2024
The federal government has allocated $700,000 for the expansion of the city's Behavioral Evaluation and Response (BEAR) Team, as part of the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill. This funding, championed by Rep. Kathy Manning, will be utilized to hire four additional crisis counselors, bringing the total staff count to 11 individuals.According to Assistant City Manager Patrice Toney, the BEAR Team, which was initially launched as a pilot program in 2023, has proven to be highly effective in responding to non-violent mental health, domestic disputes, and substance abuse...