Burrell Behavioral Health, Greene County, and the City of Springfield have made an agreement to put a crisis counselor in the same room as a 9-1-1 dispatcher full time.
Burrell Southwest Region Director of Crisis Services Natasha Corkin says 9-8-8 crisis specialists can handle calls from people with behavioral health problems who may not need emergency responders.
In Springfield, the 9-8-8 crisis specialist will work weekday afternoons and evenings.