- Los Angeles Study Finds The City’s Mobile Crisis Response Program Is “Address[ing] Critical Mental Health Emergencies” And Allows “LAPD More Time To Focus On Traditional Law Enforcement Efforts.” For The L.A. Times, Libor Jany reports on the city’s recently published new study on its mobile crisis response program which deploys “teams of licensed clinicians, social workers, community workers and therapists who work in pairs, responding to calls around the clock, seven days a week.” In its pilot year, “the program handled more than 6,700 calls… [and] already saved police nearly 7,000 hours of patrol time by freeing them up for other tasks.” The full report is worth your time, but here are three key takeaways:
- Resolving Most Crises On-Scene: “68% of all calls are resolved on scene… spending the appropriate amount of time on-scene allows responders to fully assess the situation and apply the necessary level of intervention, ensuring individuals receive the right care and support. This approach reduces the likelihood of escalation, repeat calls, or redirects to LAPD.”
- Significant Time Savings For Police Officers: The mobile crisis response team “saves LAPD officers’ time, during which officers are able to respond to higher risk calls for service… 6,900+ hours of patrol time saved… Beyond providing more appropriate care to individuals affected by crises, [mobile crisis responders] also allow LAPD more time to focus on traditional law enforcement efforts.”
- Strong Perception Of Effectiveness Among 911 Dispatchers: “83% of respondents believe the unarmed crisis response programs are effective… most respondents viewed the programs positively…”
- Indiana “Funds Mobile Response Units… To Help Respond To Mental Health Crises.” For WFYI, Benjamin Thorp reports on state leadership in Indiana investing $5 million “towards the expansion of mobile crisis response units in five counties… [where] teams of responders will help residents in the midst of mental health or substance abuse crises… and reduce calls to police or visits to the emergency room.” State officials explained to the news station that the five counties were selected “based on data showing high rates of behavioral health crises and limited [existing] mobile response infrastructure.”
- Arkansas Investing $10 Million Into “Statewide Mental Health Crisis Hub.” The Stuttgart Daily Leader reports on the state’s Department of Human Services investment into mental health crisis response across the entire state and led by the University of Arkansas. The statewide effort “includes a 24/7 centralized call center, mobile crisis teams” as well as integration with other vital services around the state including other first responders, hospitals and social services. [Seven regional sites will be] fully operational by mid-2026,” Insight Into Academia reported.
