How to Use 988 to Respond to Behavioral Health Crisis Calls

Deirdra Assey

Former Senior Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health

dassey@csg.org

Deirdra Assey provided technical assistance to programs planning and implementing criminal justice and mental health collaborations; she also worked on projects under the CSG Justice Center’s courts portfolio. Prior to joining the organization, Deirdra worked for Hudson County’s Screening Center at Jersey City Medical Center, where she was a civil commitment evaluator. She also worked with the Hudson County Crisis Intervention Team and has trained with various local law enforcement agencies. Deirdra received her BA and MA in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Shannon Scully

Senior Manager, Criminal Justice Policy

Shannon Scully is the senior manager of Criminal Justice Policy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), where she serves as a subject matter expert on criminal justice/mental health policy. In this role, she oversees NAMI’s work on criminal justice policy, researching, and analyzing administrative and legislative policies related to the justice system’s response to people with mental illness. She also provides technical assistance to NAMI affiliate organizations on best practices for implementing programs that support criminal justice reform. Before joining NAMI, Shannon worked at the Vera Institute of Justice, providing training and technical assistance to communities working to address domestic and sexual violence against people with disabilities. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict at Saint John’s University and a Master of Public Policy from American University in Washington, D.C.

Hannah Wesolowski

Director, Field Advocacy

Hannah Wesolowski is the director of Field Advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), where she directs NAMI’s advocacy strategy, working with NAMI state organizations and affiliates to identify and cultivate advocacy leaders and provide resources to help advocates promote NAMI’s policy priorities. Hannah works to equip NAMI advocates across the country with the tools and confidence they need to share their story and use the voice of lived experience to impact policy decisions at the local, state and federal level. She oversees a team of professionals who provide detailed technical assistance on policy topics to NAMI state and local leaders, activate advocates on urgent issues and manage large-scale advocacy campaigns. Hannah has a B.A. from New York University, where she also attained a Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.