CLIFTON, NJ – Public safety, health department and community partners in Clifton, NJ, now have essential deflection skills following a training program led by Operation 2 Save Lives (O2SL) and QRT National.
The Deflection Academy took place from July 25-26. Primary instructors included Scott Allen of O2SL & QRT National and Maureen Cavanagh, New York Times Bestselling author, educator and certified peer recovery specialist instructor.
Those working in the fields of social work, law enforcement, public health and medicine, substance use counseling, and health education attended. They represent the Clifton Health Department, Clifton Police Department, County of Passaic Department of Human Services, and Passaic County Mental Health and Addiction Services.
O2SL & QRT National’s Deflection Academy is designed for public safety personnel, certified recovery coaches, clinicians, social workers, and community-based organization specialists who will be engaged in Deflection and community health advocacy.
The course informs and educates attendees on the field of deflection and pre-arrest diversion. The training offers an overview of nationally recognized deflection pathways while focusing on engaging public safety in collaboration with their public health and community-based team members.
Once implemented, the pathways help community and public safety partners respond to, engage with and assist persons who have experienced overdoses and are at risk, or vulnerable persons with substance use disorders. The training also addressed other community needs, such as mental health disorders, drug-endangered children, the impacts of trauma and trauma-informed responses, family support initiatives and more.
Following the training, two trainees, a police officer and a community engagement specialist, successfully used the situational awareness skills covered in the Deflection Academy during a call for service involving a behavioral health response.
Deflection models are operating within communities across the United States. O2SL & QRT National has delivered customized Deflection training over the past three years to partners in Connecticut, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Texas, along with other specialized training and mentoring in numerous additional states.
“We were pleased to bring the Deflection Academy to New Jersey, and thank the Clifton Health Department, Clifton Police Department and their Passaic County partners for hosting our team,” Allen said. “This course exemplifies the value of partnerships and collaboration, and it was great to see attendees from various roles and professional fields working together to enhance how they can respond to community needs.”
The O2SL & QRT National Deflection Academy course is also now co-certified for Continuous Education Units (CEUs) for police officers and licensed behavioral health professionals.
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