Mental health and police responses have been at the forefront of the nation's conversation for months.

But a first-of-its-kind group in Broome County may have found the perfect balance to make sure individuals are being served and police are given proper assistance when a crisis unfolds.

It’s early on a Tuesday morning, and Sandra Westgate gets an important phone call that could save lives. As team leader for the Broome County’s Mobile Crisis Unit, she has to act quickly.

“We get the call from dispatch," said Westgate, mobile crisis unit team leader. "We take down information as to the nature of the call."

Westgate and her partner, Ashley Blewett, immediately head to their car and prepare to assist police with mental health-related calls. The two women never know what you’re walking into, and many times, it could be someone who is suicidal.

Blewett gets the computer ready. Westgate monitors the radio, and they’re on their way.

“When it’s nerve wracking is when it takes you 20 minutes to get somewhere," said Westgate.

The women know they’re often working against the clock, but they also know their work doesn’t stop when they get there, or when they leave.

When things settle down, Blewett helps the individual with everything from housing to peer services.

“I like being able to do it," said Blewett, a certified recovery peer advocate and peer specialist. "I've always had a caregiving personality. So, I like helping people and being there for them, and then being a peer specialist means I have lived experience with mental illness, so it helps the people to understand that I’ve been through it also."

The team is in no way made to replace police response, but to assist them and take over when it’s safe.

“They’re all so capable and they’re all so tuned into mental health problems," said Westgate. "And there’s so many younger generations of law enforcement officers."

She has been working in public service for decades, but this 74-year-old doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

“I don’t know why people wouldn’t want to do this. Social workers," said Westgate. "It’s an awesome job, except when the call is on the third floor and then I get a little huffy, but I love it. It’s the greatest job in the world."

And the job is so successful that Angela Lynch fields calls from counties all across the state looking to implement the program.

“Probably the biggest thing when I heard about this was immediate goosebumps," said Lynch, a director at the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier. "This kind of stuff is happening in Broome County, it's just phenomenal. This is the stuff you read about that’s going on in other parts of the country, but it’s happening here."

So far, the mobile crisis team has a 70% success rate with individuals not being incarcerated or having to go to the hospital.

Staff is looking to add a nightside crew in the future.