Westchester Reporter

In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month in April, the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) is spotlighting the effectiveness of Project Lifesaver. This initiative, in collaboration with Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), provides locator devices intended to assist families of children and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins expressed gratitude for the program, stating, "Project Lifesaver has been a wonderful resource that our Departments of Community Mental Health and Public Safety have coordinated to oversee bringing necessary protection to children and young adults with autism and developmental disabilities. In partnership with Westchester Jewish Community Services, we are able to provide parents and caregivers a little piece of mind with an additional tool at their disposal, if they need help locating a child or young adult in their care. Having every means available gives us one more layer of comfort, and I want to thank everyone involved in this program for keeping our most vulnerable safe."

Project Lifesaver, which began in 2009, is aimed at children and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities who have a propensity to wander from caregivers. The service provides families with radio frequency locator devices, allowing county police to track and locate individuals quickly.

DCMH Commissioner Michael Orth urged families to participate in the program, saying, "I want to thank the County Executive for the support that we have received to implement and operate such an important program. I encourage any family who has a child or young adult with autism or other developmental disabilities to reach out to us and sign up for Project Lifesaver. With the school year fast approaching having a transmitter that is easy to wear can give a little piece of mind."

Isabel Pettersen, WJCS Program Manager, highlighted the cooperative efforts of trained staff, stating, "WJCS trained staff works cooperatively with families to ensure that their child’s device is working effectively and battery changes are up to date. Each child will get a device that can be worn on either a wrist or ankle that emits a personalized radio-frequency locating signal, allowing West Co Public Safety officers to be able to find, identify and return a child who has wandered off. Our partnership with DCMH and Public Safety gives us the best chance to return a child who is prone to wandering. While there are never guarantees, Project Lifesaver has been one of the most successful programs at keeping children safe nationwide."

Bonnie Clark, a Scarsdale resident and mother to an autistic son, shared her experience: "As a parent of an autistic, non-verbal man, I have been with Project Lifesaver for the past 11 years. It has given me an extra piece of mind that my son will be found quickly by the police. He is unable to communicate, so this program can locate a person who may wander or get lost. I want to thank Westchester County and Project Lifesaver for continuing to support the program and to continue with programs that help all disabled individuals."

Additionally, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety incorporates autism awareness training in its Police Training Academy curriculum for law enforcement recruits. Further details about Project Lifesaver and related resources can be found at the DCMH website: mentalhealth.westchestergov.com/intellectual-developmental-disabilities.