Bernalillo unit shows team-based response
An in-depth feature documented nine hours with Bernalillo County’s Behavioral Health Unit, highlighting cross-disciplinary, team-based crisis response and the emotional toll on responders reported. The piece underscores integration of mental-health professionals alongside first responders to de-escalate and link patients to care.
Detective Steve Aldredge, clinician Jennifer Moya and paramedic Joe Drevenak are identified as the crew featured during the nine‑hour shift, forming one of three mobile crisis teams in Bernalillo County. abqjournal.com The Bernalillo County Behavioral Health Unit was launched in 2018 and officials say it has expanded since then to add paramedics and clinicians to its mobile crisis roster. krqe.com County leaders announced plans this year to authorize community paramedics to carry and administer the dissolvable antipsychotic olanzapine on scene when criteria are met, a step they say aims to reduce unnecessary emergency department transports. krqe.com The sheriff’s office is actively recruiting four additional behavioral‑health specialists to enlarge response capacity, and clinicians report the team already includes forensic case managers who follow up after contacts. krqe.com Officials told reporters the tri‑response model—paramedic, clinician and deputy—remains unusual in the state and grew out of earlier 2021 expansions that formally integrated paramedics into some mobile crisis teams. krqe.com Bernalillo County approved a Behavioral Health Strategic Plan in January 2025 and established a Behavioral Health Authority to coordinate crisis, treatment and follow‑up services countywide, while leaders say rising call volume has prompted talks about higher pay for BHU staff. bernco.gov
