Jones County mental health liaison Emma Smith stands outside of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office in Anamosa on Oct. 22.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette
ANAMOSA — Emma Smith wants to be there for anyone in crisis in Jones County.
Smith works for Foundation 2 Crisis Services and is Jones County’s first mental health liaison. She’ll respond to mental health-related 911 calls, follow up with people who have mental health needs, collaborate with school resource officers and supplement the mental health work done by county law enforcement.
“I really value what people are going through,” Smith said. “Everybody has a different life experience, and I just want them to feel heard and seen. I like making people feel like they can talk to me about anything, and also trust that I would never use that against them or judge them in any way.”
Like her counterparts in other counties, Smith will serve as a bridge between law enforcement and mental health support in Jones County. The goal is to create better outcomes for people in crisis without putting more strain on officers or jails.
‘I am here in partnership with law enforcement, but I’m not a law enforcement officer. I can’t get you into trouble.’ — Erin Langdon, Foundation 2 Crisis Services
Diversion, de-escalation
Erin Langdon, CEO, Foundation 2 Crisis Services
Foundation 2 Crisis Services, a Cedar Rapids-based mental health nonprofit, started its law enforcement liaison program in 2018 with a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The bureau supports what it calls police-mental health collaboration programs, citing studies showing such programs improve safety for officers and the people they encounter.
Each police-mental health collaboration program is tailored to the people it serves, so no two are exactly the same, said Erin Langdon, CEO of Foundation 2 Crisis Services.
“The main goal is to divert somebody from an unneeded hospitalization or jail time when the primary presenting issue that’s leading to the individual in crisis is more mental health or even substance use,” Langdon said.
Foundation 2 Crisis Services mental health liaisons
Foundation 2 Crisis Services employs six mental health liaisons: two with the Cedar Rapids Police Department and one each in Delaware County, Jones County and the Marion and Dubuque police departments.
All receive the same training as the 988 crisis counselors and one-on-one training with Layla Lynch, the organization’s law enforcement liaison program coordinator.
Langdon said law enforcement officers are great people who are trained to respond to mental health calls, but people in crisis may not react well to seeing a badge and gun.
“There is legitimacy when somebody shows up with a Foundation 2 logo on their chest and they can say, ‘I am here in partnership with law enforcement, but I’m not a law enforcement officer. I can’t get you into trouble. I’m here strictly to help you because I care and want to help you get what your needs are for either your mental health or your substance use,’” Langdon said.
Jones County Sheriff Greg Graver
People call 911 to feel safe, which is part of officers’ duty to protect and serve, said Jones County Sheriff Greg Graver.
In working with a mental health liaison, the goal is for officers to withdraw when it’s clear the scene is safe and let the mental health expert take over, he said.
“Law enforcement, unfortunately, will always be a part of these calls to some degree, but I think the less that we involve law enforcement and the more that we involve these professionals, I do think it is better for the community,” Graver said.
Follow-ups
Graver said he floated the idea of bringing a liaison into the county in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the clear need in Jones County. Overall, Jones County was receiving fewer 911 calls during that time, but the number of people making mental health-related calls was holding steady.
Mental health calls in Jones County
Jones County generally receives 15,000 to 16,000 911 calls each year, according to Jones County Sheriff Greg Graver.
Each call is assigned a description by a dispatcher, which is sometimes updated if the initial assessment changes. There are 3 mental health-related assignments:
Suicidal ideation.
Mental health emergencies that don’t pose an immediate threat to the person or others and doesn’t require medical attention.
Mental health emergencies that pose a threat to the person or others and requires medical attention.
The number of mental health calls Jones County has received in the past three years are:
2023: 293
2024: 211
2025: 190
2026 (to date): 235
That’s not counting other calls that may initially be labeled a burglary or harassment but have an underlying mental health or substance use component. Graver said his deputies can usually tell when they arrive at a scene if someone’s behavior is being driven by these factors.
Deputies perform welfare checks with repeat callers, Graver said, but Smith will be able to address core problems that law enforcement doesn’t have the time or resources to help with. He referenced a community member who called the department at least twice a week. Someone would check up on her each time, Graver said, but they couldn’t help much with what they suspected could be dementia.
“You may take the call, and you may have services for them now or recommend services, but then law enforcement’s not following up with them in a couple days because it’s not criminal-related,” Graver said. “Having that person that has the ability to go back in and follow up with these people, I think that is what we’ve been missing, and that’s what we’re looking most forward to.”
Perfect fit
Smith comes to the role with a range of experience. She graduated from Western Illinois University in 2021 with a forensic psychology degree and has worked with children on the autism spectrum and adults with substance use disorder.
Smith has a lot of military service members in her family and said she greatly appreciates the work people in the military and law enforcement do in keeping people safe. All of her experiences came together when she saw the listing for the Jones County liaison job.
“It brings two interests together, and that’s what initially actually sparked my interest in this role,” Smith said.
Smith’s been on the job for two weeks, and Graver said he’s feeling good about having her on board. Her personality inspires confidence, he said, noting Smith is comfortable on ride-alongs and chats with deputies, unintimidated by them.
For her part, Smith said she’s eager to dive in to getting to know the communities in Jones County.
She beamed as she shared her plans to bring her husband and her basset hound, Winnie, to different festivals and food spots. If you see her, don’t be afraid to say hello — just know it might take a couple of tries for her to remember your name.
“Small towns usually have the best little parades and little fairs. I want to do all of that,” Smith said. “I’m very excited to actually get out there and meet the people of Jones County and put my name out there.”
To Get Help
Call and talk to a trained, compassionate crisis counselor anytime, 24/7. Call (319) 362-2174 or 988. Options for texting or chatting available at foundation2.org/get-help/