The joint Fire and Police leadership team spearheaded a program designed to connect those who needed services such as:

• elderly care for progressive cognitive degeneration

• mental health and mental health emergency services

• substance abuse treatment programs and

• shelter and homelessness prevention to nonprofits and community organizations that were positioned to provide solutions, encouragement, and follow-up.

These pressing and growing problems affect the entire community and that’s one of the reasons LIFT was born.

LIFT is a structured, pro-active, unified approach that convenes various community resources such as crisis intervention professionals on the Treasure Island Police Department, the Treasure Island Fire Department, Directions for Living, PEMHS, Windmoor Health, Operation PAR, The Suncoast Center, Empath Health, Homeless Empowerment Program, and the Homeless Leadership Alliance, to support families and individuals in times of need. The group effectively leverages not-for-profit Pinellas county and state resources to provide Treasure Island residents in need with resources that meet their particular situations.

Arrests are not a solution. Our EMS System was not designed to provide the needed social services. These are temporary bandages on the larger problems. LIFT is aimed at elevating lives and providing solutions.