Chicago: Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE)

Location

• City: Chicago, Illinois
• Population Size: 2,693,976
• Jurisdiction Size: 227.62 sq miles

Intercept

• 0- Paramedic + MH professional team/substance use/overdose teams
• 1- Officer involved teams

CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) Requirements

• Officers will be CIT trained

Model Components

• Staffing Structure
  • 4 locations in the city- the most with police and fire transports
  • Bringing up 6 total teams including, officer involved- 1 officer + 1 paramedic + 1 MH professional, paramedic + MH professional, teams specializing in overdose and substance use- FD community paramedic + peer recovery specialist)
  • Will have an embedded clinician in call center
• Dispatch Structure
  • Will have embedded MH professional in call center
  •  

Operating Structure

• • Operations
    • Police teams are going to all risk levels, non-police teams are going to lower risk calls (including SUD/OUD overdose)
    • CARE team is interacting with the community by:
      • Direct dispatch from the 911 call center
      • Request to assist a call underway
      • Follow-up on a previous caller
      • Outreach to individuals/areas with large numbers of crisis-related calls
  • Funding Mechanisms:
    • Funding through CDC for opioid crisis (health department piece only)
    • Also have city general funds
  • Management Structure
    • Paramedics are through FD, MH Clinicians are city employees
  • Supplies/Equipment
    • Unmarked sprint vans (have lights and sirens)

Key Takeaways

• Strong support and direction from Mayor’s Department- they were clear they wanted a police MH response and a non-law enforcement response- this gave them direction and momentum