What is the difference between the SPD Crisis Response Team and the CARE Community Crisis Responder Team?
The SPD Crisis Response Team (CRT) pairs a qualified Mental Health Professional (MHP) with a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained police officer, who dispatch to calls in a marked police vehicle and typically respond to high-acuity mental health crisis calls that could pose a threat to safety. CRT has been active since 2012, and will continue providing a vital service to our community by responding to high-acuity crisis calls throughout the city.
The CARE Community Crisis Responder (CCR) Team pairs qualified mental health and behavioral health specialists, who dispatch to calls in a marked CARE Crisis Responder vehicle and typically respond to low-acuity mental health crisis calls that do not pose a threat of violence nor involve a medical emergency. As part of a dual dispatch model, CCRs are dispatched to calls at the same time as police, although in different vehicles. The dual dispatch model will improve public safety and public health by streamlining police responses to high priority 9-1-1 calls, while streamlining the delivery of social services to people experiencing behavioral health challenges.
Where do Community Crisis Responders operate?
The CARE Community Crisis Reponder Team currently assists SPD in West Precinct and East Precinct. As part of the Dual Dispatch Pilot, CCRs initially served the downtown area, aligned with the Downtown Activation Plan area that is a priority for Mayor Harrell and other community leaders. On June 26, 2024, following the success off the Dual Dispatch Pilot, Mayor Harrell announced his proposal to expand CCRs citywide, with the intent of serve all neighborhoods in our community.
When does this pilot operate?
Crisis data informed the original hours, which are 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Both 9-1-1 call data and police reports indicate that there are more calls involving behavioral health crises during these hours.
How are you going to keep unarmed responders safe?
The Seattle 9-1-1 Communications Center collects and assesses data in determining when the CARE Community Crisis Responders (CCR) should be dispatched. As part of the Dual Dispatch model, SPD officers will ensure the scene is safe prior to leaving. CCRs have extensive training in the areas of on-scene-safety, de-escalation, and crisis prevention/intervention. Moreover, CCRs will always respond in pairs, and are equipped with radios and other gear standard in crisis response. Most people experiencing mental health crises are non-violent and are best served by skilled practitioners who are unarmed.
What training do CARE Community Crisis Responders have?
CARE Community Crisis Responders (CCR) have completed a rigorous training plan collaboratively developed by CARE leadership, Seattle Police Department (SPD), Fire Department (SFD), and Downtown Emergency Service Center. The training was designed with support from the University of Washington and the Washington Co-Responder Outreach Alliance. Moreover, CCRs typically have prior crisis response field experience, in addition to credentials as certified peer support specialists and academic training in the human services fields.
Can I request one of these responses?
These services are only dispatched by Seattle 9-1-1, determined by clear protocols that assess risk and indicate what would be the best first response.
What kinds of calls for service are eligible for CARE Community Responders?
CARE Community Crisis Responders (CCR) are not law enforcement and will only respond to calls that do not require enforcement of any kind.
CCRs will respond to low-acuity, non-violent, non-emergent, non-medical calls for service.
The two call types to which CCRs will be dispatched include “welfare check” and “person down.”
How is this pilot being evaluated?
The pilot implementation is being externally evaluated by researchers at Seattle University. Early indicators that will determine effectiveness include how safe CCRs felt during the call; whether CCRs perceived their interactions to be effective, and the extent to which other first responders and community providers feel the approach is useful and should expand. The data team will track how many calls CCRs responds to, and analyze whether police officers have greater capacity to respond to higher priority (Priority 1 and Priority 2) calls.