Just five months after it started, a program to help Moline police better handle people with mental health problems will expand. Wednesday the city announced the creation of a paid internship for a college student majoring in social work.
Last August, the department began a partnership with the Center for Youth and Family Solutions, based in Peoria. Chief Darren Gault says since then his officers have made more than 500 social service referrals to the Center.
"And so their ability to connect with our community and provide additional services that we would not be able to do, I think, is a benefit to the citizens of our community and those who pass through the city of Moline."
The intern is Elizabeth Jolly, a student at St. Ambrose University, and she'll work with Moline police 16 hours a week for four months.
The internship is made possible by the city's Corporate Counsel, the Ancel Glink law firm. Spokesman Derke Price says the additional help is just what Moline needs.
" And with over 500 referrals in just a few months, you can see it's well worth it, and that the residents of Moline are exceptionally well-served here by this unique collaboration and they're only getting started."
Since August, two social workers from the Center have been working at the police department full-time - not responding to calls, but assisting with investigations and following up on cases.
