Title
Recommendation to Receive a Six-Month Update on the Alameda Community Assessment Response and Engagement (CARE) Team Pilot Program. (Fire 10032270)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In response to events locally and throughout the nation, along with a demand for restructuring of law enforcement agencies, the City of Alameda (City), through the formation of a Community-led Steering Committee on Police Reform and Racial Equity, reevaluated the methods of response to mental health emergencies in 2020/2021.
On March 16, 2021, the City Council considered recommendations from the Community-led Steering Committee on Police Reform and Racial Equity. On May 8, 2021, the City Council convened to consider a referral on related matters and provided eight additional action items for follow-up; one item included options related to mental health crisis response.
City Council gave the City Manager direction on July 6, 2021, to proceed with a mental health crisis response pilot program that would be Fire Department based, working closely with a vendor that would provide case management and licensed clinician services.
On September 21, 2021, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Alameda Family Services to provide the required case management and licensed clinician support to implement the Alameda Fire Department-managed mental crisis response model. A contract for services was executed on December 8, 2021.
The Alameda Fire Department's Community Assessment Response and Engagement (CARE) Team started delivering services on December 16, 2021. The CARE Team consists of trained Alameda Fire Department (AFD) personnel staffing a program dedicated vehicle on a 24/7/365 basis that provides services within the City related to mental health emergencies. The CARE Team staff consists of a licensed Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) trained in de-escalation and behavioral h...
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