Alternatives to Police Intervention for Mental Health/Substance Abuse Situations
Summary
A core component of divesting from police is channeling funds into programs and services that are better suited to fostering safe, healthy communities, particularly in response to behavioral health or substance use crises. There are a variety of alternate responses to armed police that have proven to be efficacious in not only dealing more appropriately with the situation, but also decreasing police violence.
Health One (Seattle, WA):
In 2019, the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) began one such program: Health One. Health One is a response vehicle staffed by two SFD firefighters and a case manager. It provides specialized outreach, transport, and social service referrals for non-emergency medical complaints and behavioral health crises, with the goal of connecting individuals to the appropriate care and services. In the 2021 budget, Seattle City Council added funding to expand this service from one van to three.
CAHOOTS (Eugene, OR):
Many people are also interested in the Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) crisis response model that has been operating in Eugene, OR for the last twenty years, an intervention service designed to respond to severe behavioral health crises in place of police. The program dispatches two-person teams of medics and crisis workers to provide immediate stabilization and support, as well as provide referrals to longer-term services including counseling, suicide prevention and intervention, and treatment for substance abuse. Not only does CAHOOTS reduce police intervention (one in five 911 calls in the area are addressed by CAHOOTS), but it has saved the city of Eugene $14 million in ambulance and emergency hospitalization costs in 2019 alone.
Importance
If Seattle were to pilot a CAHOOTS-style program, it would potentially both send more appropriate first responders to crisis situations and save taxpayer money. The Mayor and City Council will both have a say as to whether resources go to alternative responses in upcoming years.
Acronyms
CAHOOTS - Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets
SFD - Seattle Fire Department