Alternative crisis response (CARE)

We have some draft dispatch protocols for the relaunch of non-p police response that are currently undergoing internal review

I was suggesting that the pilot did not run for a suffic sufficient amount of time

there there were some reasons for why we uh chose to move away from the care program

the care program which as was said earlier is a response without PD

was not part of the police department. In fact, it involved no police intervention.

We received some um comments just wondering about the care team approach and um how that's evolved and it's not being used anymore.

I think it was the care program. Is there any other programs that we have cut because of performance measures?

The performance of the care program was analyzed and it demonstrated low call volume

Can we do a legit study of other cities that defunded the police and funded, human and social services?

the 2026 budget proposes reducing the community assistance response and engagement or care program uh resources 3 FTE

and reduced uh staffing associated with uh the care program

Data demonstrated that while the care program responded to an average of less than one call per day

even when BPD is responding with CERT which is the crisis response team so they are trained mental health professionals

in the um crisis response vein uh peer support can be another evidence-based practice to engage individuals

crisis response services that were of most importance particularly um this is a finding from the focus groups

for this evaluation because of hsbc's focus we included programs that were focused on crisis response and housing

our combined certain and Care programs um about another two million

which is of The CARE program um it will be no okay well no I wasn't it was the comprehensive one

an update on community Assistance response and Eng and engagement otherwise known as our Care Program

And part of that will also include an update on the care program.

specifically with the care program, which is a co-responder program that does not involve police.

within the police department that focuses on holistic and non-traditional law enforcement approach to community safety

next I have a couple of questions about The CARE program I'm really excited that that is now up and running

what percentage of care dispatch calls lead to backup calls

to try to change the path to competency and create more resources for people who are in the criminal justice system.

there's quite a few items in there that are clearly behavioral mental health and addiction related programs just as our CARE program is that our CT program

we have a a monthly meeting with um Mental Health Partners to collaborate on our work um we've also been uh meeting regularly with them about um one particular um property

significant mental and Behavioral Health Services provided through case management coordinated staff um includes mental health nursing referrals to particular treatments

The program it's too new to report on quite yet, but that will be coming

We have fantastic new staff members who are those serving as these behavioral health clinicians.

Here stands for community assistance, response and engagement. And it's a program that is an alternative to respond to community calls

Coes responders from the CCH and Care teams were part of the Staffing to provide expertise on managing our residents who had mental health and addiction experiences

you know the The CARE program is about um 800,000

We have 60, 80 people at a time, sitting in the county jail waiting to go to the State Hospital for evaluation

We sit in this room, and it's mental health providers, hospital staff fire police, everybody

the care team HHS Communications Transportation um all all of our emergency services

we look forward with great anticipation to the announcements about the day shelter and The CARE program

get the care alternative responder program up and running

including our crisis intervention teams both The CARE andert program our non-law enforcement and co- law enforcement response programs

the behavioral health or CARE program this is the non-law enforcement response program that program is in the process

I'll also just mention that both are are certain care programs you know we had budgeted both of those programs

The CARE program was established as an ongoing program mid-year in 2023 with permanent staff of Peace managers

percentage of calls that the result in a care team being dispatched in lie of officers

the existing co-responder team and the launch of the new care team in the coming months result in a diversion of calls

last calendar year um with the CARE program the co-responder program right there was a commissioner

it's a partnership between our department and the fire department which manages the emergency response

the city currently has a program where a mental health provider professional will accompany a police officer

it includes the behavioral health or CARE program that's about 1.8 million dollars projected in 2024

The CARE program uh safe and manage public spaces being another

which are the The CARE program um the uh day Center

Do you have any questions about the update on the care team?

regarding the care team in the reimagining police topic that was discussed a couple of months ago.

including the reimagining police care team as a reminder.

fund the day Services Center and The CARE program which are great opportunities there

for the behavioral health or CARE program we programmed

continuing crisis response Services currently funded with temporary funding support

we're the co-responder team that works with Boulder police officers in responding to behavioral health calls in the community

engagement or Care Program which is a non-police response similar to star in Denver

which is how do we deal with the immediate crisis of

some additional feedback and some suggestions about other cities co-responder models and uh to look at

the mobile crisis response uh might be appropriate if there's not a major medical concern

mobile crisis response without police and that is dispatched through the Colorado crisis line

part part of which is really heavily impacted by um a Workforce shortage when it comes to behavioral health professionals

we're trying to direct people to Mental Health Services instead of the justice system

the policies for handling juveniles between law enforcement as well as handling effective community members who might be having a mental health condition

the behavioral health response emergency response program that we're standing up this next year

we have proposed in the 23 budget to to start a day Services Center our behavioral health program is another

this will focus on dispatching ems and clinicians to certain types of calls for service which is a new approach for 2023

this budget proposes 1.7 million dollars in enhancements in homelessness solutions behavioral health response and takes some innovative new approaches

the day services center our non-law enforcement behavioral health response program

i was glad to hear we're going to get an update on the star program uh soon

we do know that with this co-responder program we usually end up there anyway

particularly the mental health component of that um so we're we're um actually working on a agement

I would encourage you to think about that being a counselor somebody who can provide mental health or um some other sort

because we have a few uh regional co-responder programs that already have footing and could just uh sort of benefit

co-responder uh is a huge uh strategy that a lot of our our communities are looking into

the be there program um provides a monthly report it's not on a public dashboard yet

does that roll into the 9-1-1 piece of it i mean will eventually will that be the response

they tried to take the bulk of the emergency calls relating to mental health concerns and behavioral health issues

911 mental health responses there are a number of new initiatives related to mental health support

within those areas there are at least three bills moving around crisis hotlines uh you know the 998 hotline another hotline provided by the Department of Human Services

is there any legislation that will provide relief um and provide better out comes uh with respect to those who are suffering from drug addiction and mental illness

a crucial part of racial Equity is a program such as the star or Cahoots programs that have already been mentioned

these co-responding programs such as Edge have proven robust and they have been shown to be like a 4 to1 budget

by sending medical professionals to respond to respond to non-criminal criminal calls

PROGRAMM A ASS FARAR A ASS THEHE THATAT WE'RERE D DCUSSSSGGG I IS OFOF MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE

THEHE TEAMAM ISN'T'T LEDED FOROR SOMOS BY THEHE POLICE BUTUT INSTEAD BA NONN POLICEE SOCIALL WORKER MENL HEALTH TEAM.

starting in January. We're going to have for mental health experts. Responding to calls instead of police

we talked with a Mental Health Partners and to try to get mental health experts to accompany police officers to respond to calls

to some mental health professionals that can help people rather than, you know, Just treat them punitively etc.

how many of you have needed mental health care but instead had a SWAT team show up at your apartment

in order to really focus on Mental Health um response we are suggesting that positions from the police department be moved over to housing and Human Services

we need to hire the mental health professional that will be part of that cohort of people that will be um servicing our community

and really gave us a meaningful mental health co-responder program several years ago

understand and produce some type of quarterly or biannual report on how the police department is responding to mental health requests

instead of having it provided by a police officer who may not have the qualifications for that

mental health professionals assist with on-site Mental Health crisis situations

redirect police funding towards increasing the number of social workers drug counselors and mental health experts

We want trained non armed professionals to take all non criminal calls

I think Boulder does an excellent job with that already with the mental health response teams

domestic violence mental health co-responders domestic violence co-responders homeless Outreach workers Social Service workers

WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS OR A MENTAL HEALTH WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO

SOME WAY OF DEALING WITH THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES AND MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE JUST DUMPING THIS ON THE POLICE

starting the Edge co-responder program to support mental health needs on police calls