Madison Heights Co-Responder Program Praised for Addressing Mental Health Crises

The program embeds clinicians from Oakland County Health Network with local police departments to provide mental health support.

Mar. 9, 2026 at 5:57pm

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The Madison Heights City Council recently received an update on the co-responder program, where clinicians from Oakland County Health Network assist police with individuals experiencing mental health crises. The program, which launched in 2021 and expanded to Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Royal Oak and Ferndale in 2024, has seen over 1,700 referrals in less than two years. The clinicians help deescalate tense situations, divert subjects out of the legal system when possible, and connect them with long-term resources.

Why it matters

The co-responder program aims to address the growing need for mental health support among first responders, who are often expected to handle these sensitive situations despite lacking specialized training. By embedding clinicians with police departments, the program helps divert individuals in crisis away from the criminal justice system and towards more appropriate mental health resources.

The details

The co-responder program is overseen by the Oakland County Health Network (OCHN), which manages public funds including Medicaid to provide a network of nearly 200 mental health and substance abuse providers. The program has 10 master's-level social worker clinicians embedded in 20 communities with 20 police departments across the county. In Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Royal Oak and Ferndale, the initial cost of the program was $245,000, split between the four cities, with an annual recurring cost of about $240,000.

  • The co-responder program launched in 2021.
  • The program expanded to Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Royal Oak and Ferndale in the summer of 2024.
  • From the program's soft launch in June 2024 through the end of 2025, the four communities saw over 1,700 referrals.

The players

Hillary Nusbaum

The supervisor of the co-responder program.

Trisha Zizumbo

The chief operating officer at Oakland County Health Network.

Quinn Wright

A Madison Heights City Councilmember.

Corey Haines

The mayor of Madison Heights and former police chief.

Oakland County Health Network

The organization that oversees the co-responder program and manages public funds including Medicaid to provide a network of nearly 200 mental health and substance abuse providers.

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What they’re saying

“Our co-responder program is part of our justice team. We have a very large justice team with about 40 staff who are embedded all along our justice system.”

— Trisha Zizumbo, Chief Operating Officer, Oakland County Health Network

“Looking at the numbers, looks like we got our money's worth since (we contribute 25% in funding) and we had 25% of cases.”

— Quinn Wright, Madison Heights City Councilmember

“I 100% think this is a fantastic idea for our community. The idea that I like most is how many folks, within the realm of working with law enforcement, get to go home and be diverted from a system that might not have been in the best interest of anyone.”

— Quinn Wright, Madison Heights City Councilmember

“Police officers, fire, EMS — they're all expected to be counselors, and a lot of calls expect them to have all this training. So, you have filled an amazing need in mental health. I give all the respect to everyone who does it… Just a fantastic job, and something that has been needed for a long time.”

— Corey Haines, Mayor of Madison Heights, Former Police Chief

What’s next

The program is expected to continue expanding to additional communities in Oakland County as more police departments seek to partner with the co-responder program to address mental health crises.

The takeaway

The co-responder program in Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Royal Oak and Ferndale demonstrates how embedding mental health clinicians with local police can effectively divert individuals in crisis away from the criminal justice system and towards more appropriate resources, addressing a critical need for first responders and the communities they serve.