On Tuesday of last week St. Clair County Community Mental Health had their annual awards banquet, and according to St. Clair County Administrator Controller Karry Hepting, the St. Clair County Sheriff Department was honored with the art of caring award. This award is given to different organizations or businesses that make a significant impact on the programs and individuals supported by CMH. The Sheriff Department had been working with CMH to have a more collaborative relationship to provide training for officers when they are responding to calls where individuals might be exhibiting symptoms of mental illness. Hepting says that it involved Sheriff Department Staff and CMH Staff, working together, job shadowing to understand each other’s roles and how to better help those individuals.
