Chicago's non-police CARE teams now answer mental health calls citywide
Chicago's Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement program, known as CARE, has responded to 51% more 911 calls since it went citywide in May, according to data the city's public health department gave Borderless. Teams of clinicians and EMTs handled 127 calls between May and August. Most came from Lakeview, Uptown and Near West Side. CARE started in six police districts in 2021. It has served over 2,600 people since, and the city has hired more staff to meet growing demand.
Anywhere in Chicago, someone in a mental health crisis can now get a response from clinicians and EMTs, with no police involved.
Source: More Chicagoans are Getting Mental Health Help Through 911 – Environment and Health – Borderless Magazine NFP (borderlessmag.org).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: hello@happygood.news.
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