For a year, a specialized team has been taking mental health calls across Chicago. […]
The 22-person team has responded to hundreds of call over the last year and so far, none of them have escalated to an arrest or the use of force. […]
“We’ve come across people who may not have pants or may not have a shirt and we’re able to give them these items,” said Jennifer Garross, a licensed clinical social worker on the [Chicago’s Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement] Team.
Garross added these include items that a police squad car would not have. She uses her radio, pairs up with a specially trained community paramedic and a crisis intervention-trained officer.
She heads out to pilot areas in the Uptown and Lakeview area, the Auburn Gresham and Chatham neighborhoods and the area around Lawndale.
“We’re able to show up to a situation where there’s a mental health crisis, help to deescalate it,” Garross said.
They hope to avoid a scene like one in 2020 when Chicago native Daniel Prude’s family called police in Rochester, New York because he was walking around naked and acting erratically.
That call escalated and Prude ultimately suffocated and died after being taken into custody.
“What we’ve found through cases like this is often getting them in a first response mode at the same time always presents a possibility for a different outcome,” said Jonathan Zaentz, district chief of special projects, who oversees the 10 paramedics on the CARE Team. He said they’ve been trained to respond differently.
“The focus often isn’t on immediately getting someone to a hospital or an emergency room,” Zaentz said. “It’s on deciphering what’s going on here? What can we do and how can we have an outcome that is going to beneficial to them?”
In the past year, the team responded to 269 calls. They’ve had 198 follow-ups with zero use of force events and zero arrests.
- Stormsw7706 - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 11:33 am:
Outstanding results. They should be very proud of that record. It would be nice to hear the FOP, Illinois Sheriffs Association, and other law enforcement groups get behind measures to extend this program across the state. I worked in a similar program in Michigan for 3 1/2 years in the 80s. Worked well the also but was ultimately gutted by GOP legislature and Governor to help the state “ live within its means”.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 11:34 am:
This sounds like a great program staffed by caring and responsive people.
- The Young Gov - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 11:44 am:
This is sorely needed and I’m glad to see the good results and media coverage. Now we shouldn’t stop expanding until this is the routine response in every corner of Chicago and in everyone’s thought process about how we respond to mental health issues. So many people only think about calling the police.
- What's in a name? - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 11:45 am:
What am I missing: 269 calls over a year for 22 people amounts to about 1 call per month per team member and less than 1 follow up per month.
- Google Is Your Friend - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 12:00 pm:
- What’s in a name? - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 11:45 am:
You’re missing that these numbers are for two neighborhoods. Next time, try actually reading.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 12:08 pm:
Proving what many mental health pros have been saying for years. This is something for Chicago to be proud to be a leader on.
- Benjamin - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 12:18 pm:
@What’s in a name?–it sounds like each call gets three responders (social worker, paramedic, officer), not one. Also, I’ll bet each call takes a significant amount of time to resolve and follow-up with.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
I really hope this model is expanded, moving funding from police to smarter intervention models that both limit violence and have better results. I understand the term “defund the police” is triggering for some, but this program is exactly the type of thing folks are going for.
- illinifan - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 12:56 pm:
A number of Illinois police departments had social workers on staff for a long time. There is even an association of police social workers. They often respond to instances such as being done in Chicago. Police chiefs I have talked with over the years love the value added and how it helps ensure officers time is spent on addressing crime issues as the social worker is able to provide more effective intervention on social issues (mental health, substance use, domestic violence, neighbor disputes etc.) Some areas that have used this for a long time are Naperville, Aurora, Elgin. https://www.ilchiefs.org/assets/Command/2020_November_Command_FINAL_optimized.pdf
- ugh - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 12:59 pm:
Thank you, mental health professionals, doing the difficult but necessary work you do. Lives are being saved. So nice to see some good news.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 3:35 pm:
“I understand the term “defund the police” is triggering for some, but this program is exactly the type of thing folks are going for.” Indeed, that is exactly what I have in mind when I say “Defund”. Take some of the 10s (or 100s) of millions given to the police and fund programs like this.
- praIriedog - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 5:25 pm:
- Google Is Your Friend - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 12:00 pm:
- What’s in a name? - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 11:45 am:
You’re missing that these numbers are for two neighborhoods. Next time, try actually reading
Actually YOU try reading. they gave you the call volume. 1 call per month per team. Reading is fundamental.
- MyTwoCents - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 5:47 pm:
praIriedog, you and What’s in a name are failing at reading. As Benjamin explained, 1 person is not a team, they operate in what seems to be teams of 3, so basically 7 teams. That would mean that for 269 calls, it’s averaging 3 calls per month and 2 follow ups per month. We also don’t know how long they spend on the calls & follow ups nor how many days a month they are available to respond to calls. Regardless, keeping people out of the criminal justice system and out of hospitals is a win all the way around, and a money-saver, so yes, this program should be greatly expanded.
- Original Rambler - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 7:29 pm:
Agree with Skeptic, but nevertheless that phrase has got to go.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 7:37 pm:
This is good to see/read.
We need to look at how to do things to help people best. Changes can make a difference
- Amalia - Wednesday, Aug 3, 22 @ 10:13 pm:
crisis intervention trained officer. that’s police. so the police go with two other people to a situation. still the police.
- prairiepolice - Thursday, Aug 4, 22 @ 8:24 am:
269 calls in 365 days. That is about one call every 30 hours. So that LEO who is assigned…… what do they do the rest of the time when CPD is usually on rapid status ( hint that is police talk for calls pending) does that officer shag calls or just wait to maybe get a call every other shift.