In a celebratory event held earlier this week at the Wyndham Newport Hotel recognizing CIT champions across RI, Attleboro resident Amy McCarthy, LICSW, co-responder team clinical coordinator for Gateway Emergency Services, was awarded “CIT Mental Health Partner of the Year” for the Urban Core area.
“We had more than 57 nominations for these awards, so you truly are an example for the rest of the state. We are so proud to work alongside you as you continue to advance improved crisis response across the state,” said Liz Gledhill, MPH, statewide coordinator and project manager, Crisis Intervention Teams of RI.
A graduate of Rhode Island College with a Master's of Social Work degree, McCarthy has 20 years of experience in multiple aspects of the RI mental health system, with expertise in psychiatric crisis work, co-responder models, and crisis intervention.
The following is Amy’s awards nomination:
“Amy has been instrumental in the creation and ongoing operations of the CIT Unit at Cranston PD. She started with an idea that the department expressed during the CIT academy in January of 2021 and facilitated resources and buy in from essential partners. Once funding was secured by the department, the outreach efforts by her team and CCAP, has been unapparelled. Not only has it helped the community of Cranston, but it has aided our officers with the stigma surrounding mental health and illness. She has broken down barriers to have those conversations whether it's her clinicians on the road with officers or at Headquarters. Our CIT program is unique as Amy has implemented plain clothed officers accompanied by clinicians to assist with follow up services. In addition, the co-responder team handles real time calls for service aiding the patrol division. We have a proactive robust outreach effort to the homeless encampments in our city which was not present before Amy and her team's arrival. Because of these efforts, I endorse this nomination for Amy. She is constantly searching for innovative ways to educate & aid the community, and never says "I can't do that" rather, "let's figure it out."