The Chapel Hill Police Department and Orange County are partnering to start a new mobile crisis team in Chapel Hill. On Monday, they launched the Crisis Assistance, Response, and Engagement (CARE) team, which responds both in-person and virtually to crisis calls that do not require a law enforcement response.
“We know from the experience of our longstanding Crisis Unit that many calls involving behavioral health, mental health, and substance use require a specialized response,” Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew said. “And, for the first time, a crisis counselor will be embedded in Orange County’s 911 call center as a critical part of the CARE team and our commitment to holistic response within our community.”
The crisis counselor in the 911 call center will divert non-emergent calls away from an in-person response, as appropriate. The counselor can also provide remote support to callers before the arrival of first responders or the CARE team.
“Welcoming a crisis counselor into our 911 call center is groundbreaking,” said Kim Woodard, Emergency Management Services Division Chief. “This counselor can begin supporting community members over the phone as soon as a call comes in. And the immediate determination is being made as to the appropriate type of first response. We believe this will become an invaluable resource.”
The mobile portion of the CARE team consists of another crisis counselor, a peer support specialist – someone who has lived experience with challenges vulnerable community members face – and a community emergency medical technician. The CARE team will enable Chapel Hill to divert 911 crisis calls to a team trained to provide a therapeutic and holistic response that is safe and an evidence-based best practice.
Woodard continued, “Orange County Emergency Services is excited to embed our first Community EMT on the CARE Team. This experienced EMT is capable of providing first aid, wound care, and will augment the team in providing crisis support. This EMT will also bring the added benefit of bridging the crisis response to the traditional EMS response when necessary.”
The UNC School of Government will help evaluate the program and a community-based advisory team will share input that helps guide the program into the future and its anticipated coverage throughout the county within two years.