Edward Jacoubs of O2SL & QRT National presents to attendees of Community Mental Health of Ottawa County, Michigan on Oct. 24. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National) 
Mike Botieri of O2SL & QRT National presents to attendees of Community Mental Health of Ottawa County, Michigan on Oct. 24. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National) 
Mike Botieri of O2SL & QRT National presents to attendees of Community Mental Health of Ottawa County, Michigan on Oct. 26. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National) 
Edward Jacoubs of O2SL & QRT National presents to attendees of Community Mental Health of Ottawa County, Michigan on Oct. 26. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National) 
Training attendees participate in discussions with Edward Jacoubs of O2SL & QRT on Oct. 25. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National)
OTTAWA COUNTY, MICH. – Operation 2 Save Lives (O2SL) & QRT National recently delivered training for Community Mental Health of Ottawa County, Michigan.
The training was delivered by O2SL & QRT National and took place from Oct. 24-26 in Ottawa County. The training was a one-day program delivered for three consecutive days.
Instructors included National Vice President of Business Development Mike Botieri and Edward Jacoubs, both of O2SL & QRT National. The training focused on an introduction to pre-arrest diversion and deflection, situational awareness and de-escalation strategies for outreach engagement.
Participants of the training included clinicians, social workers and peer recovery specialists from Mental Health of Ottawa County who will be conducting active outreach in the community with vulnerable populations in the evolving field of Deflection, and educating and bringing awareness to the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI) while incorporating situational awareness and de-escalation strategies. In total, 50 clinicians, social workers and peer recovery specialists were trained across the three days.
Attendees learned about nationally recognized deflection pathways. Once implemented, the pathways help community partners respond to, engage with and assist persons who have experienced overdoses and are “at-risk” or vulnerable persons suffering from substance use disorders and related behavioral health issues. The training also addressed other community needs, such as mental health, drug-endangered children, the impacts of trauma and trauma-informed responses, family support initiatives, community collaboration and more.
“Deflection is an incredibly valuable approach for community service providers to reach those at risk of crisis or who are experiencing substance use disorder, and we are proud to be supporting providers across the country, like in Ottawa County, as they work to expand and evolve support services in their communities,” Botieri said.
###