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By Invitation Only
By Invitation Only
Law Enforcement Only
Law Enforcement Only

    Workshop

    Smaller Agency

    Community Care Program: An Evidence-Based Approach for Embedding Social Workers in Rural Agencies

    Saturday, October 18, 2025
    2:30 PM - 3:30 PM MT
    Location: 501/502, Colorado Convention Center
    In rural communities, many calls for service are actually calls for help with social issues—such as homelessness, substance use, and mental health needs. While law enforcement can and does respond to these calls, addressing their root causes often extends beyond the training of a traditional law enforcement officer. Our solution was to create a program called Community Care, which embeds social workers and social work interns in rural police departments to assist with co-response. The Community Care model was developed through a collaboration between the Sylva Police Department and Western Carolina University. Currently operating in seven agencies, the program offers a blueprint to help other small departments launch their own alternative responder initiatives in rural, resource-challenged communities.