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The Ferndale Police Department has developed several community partnerships to provide additional support and assistance for those in need. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and have questions regarding the programs mentioned below, please contact Community Engagement Officer Jill Mahlmeister at 248-584-2596.
The Families Against Narcotics initiative is obtained to assist individuals struggling with addiction because of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The Quick Response Team (QRT) is a three-member unit consisting of a police officer, peer recovery coach, and family recovery coach. Within 72 hours of a non-fatal drug overdose, this team “comes back“ to the home where a first responder previously assisted with the life-threatening event. The team’s objective is to make contact with the individual who has overdosed, as well as their family. The team will offer information, support, and assistance in obtaining recovery services in addition to connecting them with community resources.
Hope Not Handcuffs is an initiative started by Families Against Narcotics (FAN), aimed at bringing law enforcement and community organizations together to find viable treatment options for individuals seeking help to reduce dependency with heroin, prescription drugs, and alcohol. It is a solution. A person struggling with any substance use disorder can come to any of the participating police agencies and ask for help. They will be greeted with support, compassion, and respect. If accepted into the program, the individual will be guided through a brief intake process to ensure proper treatment placement.
The City of Ferndale has partnered with Common Ground, Oakland County’s leading crisis services agency. The partnership puts Common Ground in a position to help Ferndale first responders recognize opportunities for crisis management support and connect in-need individuals and families with available programs and services. Common Ground is entering year two of the three-year grant program, which seeks to provide follow-up care and service continuity to individuals at high risk of suicide or experiencing high levels of anxiety or depression. Officers will be trained to ask five questions to determine whether an individual needs crisis intervention, including simple yes-or-no questions about violence, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, and substance abuse. Common Ground will follow up with referrals and provide a continuity of care - referring resources and follow-up care are provided only with individuals’ consent. Severe cases requiring immediate intervention or hospitalization will be managed by Common Ground’s Mobile Crisis Response Team, with follow-up care consisting of support services, substance abuse treatment and intervention, and assistance with identifying and eliminating high-risk or dangerous situations.
As Oakland County’s only comprehensive program for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, HAVEN provides shelter, counseling, advocacy, and educational programming to nearly 30,000 people each year. Its mission is to empower survivors to heal and engage all individuals and communities to address and prevent sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
Youth Assistance Programs are community-based and developed by volunteers who live and/or work in the surrounding communities. The Circuit Court provides the professional staff to work with the volunteers and to provide direct casework services. Ferndale Youth Assistance works under the sponsorship and financial support of the Ferndale School District, City of Ferndale, City of Pleasant Ridge, Charter Township of Royal Oak, and Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Division.
The focus is youth substance abuse prevention, bringing together all segments of the community to reduce substance abuse and promote a mentally, emotionally, and physically safe & healthy environment in which to live and work. The goals are to increase community collaboration, reduce underage use and access to alcohol and marijuana, and promote health and wellness.
Crime Stoppers’ staff and volunteers continually advocate for communities throughout the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan. The community outreach programs are designed to both educate the public about CSM and encourage residents to be proactive by speaking up if they become aware of crime in their community.
The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAOM) is leading efforts to make Michigan a better place to live for people with autism and their families. AAOM works hard to raise expectations and expand opportunities for people touched by autism across the lifespan.
The Comeback Quick Response Team is an initiative of Families Against Narcotics that aims to assist survivors of drug overdoses. Within days of a person experiencing a non-fatal drug overdose, a Quick Response Team–comprised of a police officer, a medical professional, and a recovery coach–will perform a post-overdose wellness check to offer the individual the help and resources they deserve.
The Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team is a multi-jurisdictional task force that is designed to integrate federal and local law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate, and prosecute violators of state and federal narcotics laws.