City’s Behavioral Crisis Response Teams are Now Operating 24 Hrs/day, Mon-Fri
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 2:28PMExcerpt from the City of Minneapolis' February 16 e-newsletter:
The City’s Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) teams are now operating 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. The teams are part of a pilot project led by the City’s Office of Performance and Innovation with Canopy Roots serving as the provider.
The teams launched Dec. 13, 2021 as a new first response that provides crisis intervention and connection to support services. They initially operated Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight.
Two mobile units operate throughout Minneapolis. Each has a team of two behavioral health responders and outreach supplies, such as water, socks, snacks and toiletries. Minneapolis 911 dispatches the responders. The teams can’t be called directly by residents.
The response teams are an alternative to police response. The Minneapolis Police Department will only be on scene if dispatch determines the need to clear the scene first or the response teams request assistance to complete their work.
People having a behavioral crisis or reporting one should continue to call 911 for help. 911 dispatchers will gather information and determine if the incident is eligible for a mobile behavioral health team response. The teams will not respond to incidents involving firearms or violent behavior. MPD can request the assistance of the Behavioral Crisis Response Teams to complete their work as well.
Learn more about the Behavioral Health Response Teams pilot project.
