Image Credit: Riverside Sheriff Office
Our Board members Rachel Williams and Dana Fite were recently interviewed by the North Coast Journal about the Rio Dell Police Department’s adoption of the Blue Envelope Program.
“Redwood Coast Regional Center (RCRC), a nonprofit that provides developmental disability resources on the North Coast, has been collaborating with Humboldt County police departments to launch the Blue Envelope Program, which is meant to bridge potential communication gaps between first responders and individuals” with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during traffic stops or house calls.
According to the article, more support is coming soon in Arcata and Eureka. “Cal Poly Humboldt’s University Police Department began training its officers on Sept. 29 and the Eureka Police Department has also expressed interest.”
“The voluntary program, which has been implemented in jurisdictions across the country, also provides stickers, buttons, lanyards and bracelets with a blue envelope symbol to alert first responders. Williams said the goal is to … make local police departments aware of the program, so even first responders outside jurisdictions registered with the program understand the symbol.”