Communities across the U.S. are launching new responses to emergency calls. They are redefining who answers calls for service involving mental health or substance use crises, homelessness, “quality-of-life” issues, and other low-level situations.
Taking the Call will bring people together from across the U.S. to explore how jurisdictions are serving as laboratories for innovation to ensure that emergency calls receive the appropriate response. The conference will explore the opportunities and challenges of these community responder models and whether or how the approach may improve community health, lessen the burden on law enforcement, and reduce unnecessary justice system contact.
This virtual launch event will feature a panel discussion including:
- Kristen Mahoney, Acting Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance
- Dr. Anita Everett, Director, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Mental Health Services
- representative from the Denver STAR program
- other invited quests
Taking the Call is presented by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, The Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the University of Cincinnati. Both the launch event and the national conference are free and open to the public; pre-registration is required.