The Clinician & Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) Program: The Harris Center & Harris County Sheriff’s Office Case Study

Name: The Clinician & Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) Program: The Harris Center & Harris County Sheriff’s Office Case Study
Start: 2026-04-09T13:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-04-09T14:00:00-04:00

April 09, 2026

1:00 – 2:00 pm ET

Many provider organizations are searching for more effective ways to improve crisis response, reduce unnecessary emergency detentions, enhance community safety, and strengthen connections to appropriate services.

During this one-hour live presentation, Ann MacLeod, Crisis Division Director at The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, and Lieutenant Jose “Rico” Gomez of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) will present the Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) Program—an innovative model that embeds real-time clinical expertise directly into law enforcement operations. Known as “Doc in a Box,” the program enables officers to connect with licensed mental health clinicians through secure video technology for immediate assessment, guidance, and intervention during behavioral health–related calls.

Lieutenant Gomez and Ms. MacLeod will describe how the program was conceptualized, implemented, and scaled through a strong partnership and shared objectives between The Harris Center and HCSO. They will describe the elements necessary for model fidelity, including training requirements, operational protocols, integration with dispatch and field units, technology requirements, and performance monitoring.

Using case scenarios, Lieutenant Gomez and Ms. MacLeod will show how the model empowers provider organizations with stronger decision-making, reduced reliance on traditional law enforcement responses, and improved clinical outcomes.

Key Takeaways For Attendees:

The CORE Program operational requirements and how it enhances field response during behavioral health crises.
The key elements of model fidelity and sustainability, including training requirements, interagency collaboration, and performance metrics.
The ability to replicate or adapt the CORE Program to improve safety, efficiency, and service delivery in different markets.

Featured Speakers

Ann MacLeod, LPC-S, NCC, Director, Crisis Division, The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD

Ms. MacLeod oversees field-based programs and law enforcement collaborations. She has a lengthy history in the mental health field with a focus on community mental health. Her experience includes mental health issues from assisting with legislative rules to face-to-face contact with clients. She has developed several innovative collaborative projects between behavioral health providers, law enforcement, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and the district attorney’s office to assist in the needs of individuals with a mental health diagnosis. She has presented at international, national, and regional behavioral health and law enforcement conferences. She is the behavioral health liaison for Houston which is designated as a national Council of State Governments Learning Site. She has been involved as a board member and officer of the Texas Crisis Intervention Team (TCIT) association. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in the State of Texas and is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors.
Jose “Rico” Gomez, Lieutenant, Harris County Sheriff’s Office

Lieutenant Gomez has proudly served with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) for over 18 years. He began his career as a detention officer before graduating from the HCSO Law Enforcement Academy in 2009. After several years on patrol, Jose became one of the original deputies to volunteer for the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) in 2011, dedicating seven years to mental health response. In 2017, he was among the first to pilot the Telepsychiatry Program, which evolved into the department’s current Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) program. A passionate mental health trainer, Jose has led the development of educational video series, launched social media platforms for jail diversion and mental health initiatives, and designed impactful tools. He also introduced key community support programs like Project Guardian for individuals with autism and Take Me Home for those living with dementia.

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