In 2023, the Aurora Police Department’s innovative co-response programs, pairing mental health clinicians with emergency responders, witnessed significant growth and success. These initiatives, namely the Aurora Mobile Response Team (AMRT) and Crisis Response Team (CRT), played a pivotal role in diverting hundreds of individuals from jail or emergency rooms. The outcomes of these programs were recently presented during a public safety committee meeting, shedding light on their impact and effectiveness.
Program Overview:
To gauge the success of the co-responder programs, data was collected using mental health-related keywords, identifying over 19,000 calls for service that could have benefited from a mental health response in 2023. Notably, CRT responded to over 2,500 calls (13.6%), and AMRT responded to 436 calls (2.2%). Currently, the city boasts five CRT units and three AMRT units.
Positive Outcomes:
The co-response programs proved instrumental in diverting more than 250 people from jail, criminal charges, or unnecessary trips to emergency rooms. Courtney Tassin, the crisis intervention program manager, highlighted that calls for service averaged between 50 to 80 minutes, with resolutions occurring on-scene in half of the cases. The success rate showcased the effectiveness of the programs in providing immediate support and solutions.
Operational Procedures:
Upon arriving at the scene, responders conducted initial safety assessments, followed by behavioral health screenings and assessments. Clinicians actively assisted individuals in identifying support systems, coping skills, and safe environments. Resolutions occurred on-site, with options including referral to a walk-in crisis center, diversion to an emergency department, or, in some cases, jail. Notably, only 1% of calls resulted in jail time, while 8% led to an involuntary mental health hold.
Preventing Repeat Calls:
Addressing repeat callers, program clinicians focused on preventative measures to discourage reliance on 911. One case highlighted successful intervention, where a person who called 60 times daily reduced their calls significantly after connecting with resources through Aurora Mental Health.
Program Evolution:
Established in the last six years, both AMRT and CRT received funding approval in 2023, facilitating their expansion. The collaboration with UCHealth in January 2023 added six new clinicians and two care coordinators to the programs, enhancing their capacity to respond effectively.
Unique Approaches:
AMRT, initiated in September 2021, offers an alternative response to behavioral health crises, pairing mental health clinicians with paramedics or EMTs. In contrast, CRT, part of the Aurora Police Department since 2018, involves crisis intervention-trained police officers working alongside mental health clinicians. Both programs focus on trauma-informed crisis care, contributing significantly to the community.
Future Collaborations:
Aurora Fire Rescue’s collaboration with Aurora911 and Falck Rocky Mountain introduced the Right Response program. This initiative aims to dispatch care providers based on incident acuity, aligning with the goals of AMRT and CRT to address situations without a full lights-and-sirens response.
Conclusion:
In 2023, Aurora’s Crisis Response Teams demonstrated their effectiveness in providing timely and compassionate assistance to individuals experiencing mental health crises. The success stories, diversion rates, and collaborative efforts underscore the invaluable role these programs play in supporting the community and ensuring appropriate resources are available for those in need. The continued evolution of these initiatives promises a brighter future for crisis response in Aurora.