City Removing Police And Fire Departments From Mental Health Emergency Response Program

CHICAGO — The city’s mental health emergency response program will now operate without police officers or fire department paramedics, the city announced as it looks to ramp up mental health services.

The CARE, or Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement, provides teams of mental health professionals plus specially trained police and paramedics to respond to mental health related 911 calls. The program was launched in two neighborhood clusters during the 2021 budget process with an initial $3.5 million investment and has steadily expanded since then.

The CARE program will now operate solely under the Chicago Department of Public Health and will not include police officers or fire department personnel, according to a Wednesday announcement.

The city announced the program will now be staffed entirely by health department employees. Response teams will consist of behavioral health clinicians and emergency medical technicians.

Since 2021, CARE teams have responded to more than 1,500 calls. The calls have resulted in zero arrests and use of force in less than .1% of incidents, according to the city news release.

“By directing 9-1-1 mental health calls to public health teams, we are ending the criminalization of these issues and helping to ensure people who are unhoused or experiencing a mental health challenge get the treatment and support they need,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in the news release.

Over the past three years, some progressive alderpeople have criticized the mental health response program for using armed police officers.

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd) introduced the “Treatment Not Trauma” ordinance in 2021, but the legislation stalled when the CARE pilot was launched. The alderwoman’s plan would create a network of professionals to respond to mental health emergencies without armed police officers and would reopen 14 currently closed city-run mental health centers.

In May, Johnson announced the reopening of the Roseland Mental Health Center. The mayor also announced his administration would be adding mental health services at Legler Public Library, 115 S. Pulaski Road, and at the city-run vaccine clinic in Pilsen, 1713 S. Ashland Ave.

The CARE program is currently active in Uptown, North Center, Lakeview, the Loop, the Near South Side, Archer Heights, West Elsdon, Garfield Ridge, Clearing, West Lawn, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Ashburn, Chatham and in parts of Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, the near West Side, Douglas, Brighton Park, Gage Park, Greater Grand Crossing, Roseland and Auburn Gresham, according to its website.

City leaders have said the mental health responder program will eventually be expanded to the entire city. Program responders follow-up with individuals after one, seven and 30 days, according to the news release.

The leaders of Chicago’s fire responder agencies said such alternative response programs can make for a safer city.

“Protecting public safety will always be a collaborative effort, and having mental health clinicians available to respond to select 9-1-1 calls for which they are well equipped will enable all of us to continue building safer communities together,” Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said in a statement.

“The Fire Department was proud to pilot this program with our community paramedics and demonstrate the value of having specialized teams respond to crisis mental health calls,” Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said in a statement. “Transitioning the program to public health leadership will benefit Chicagoans by continuing to increase access and linkages to mental health treatment and social supports.”

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