The Issue

For decades, Americans have called 911 when they are experiencing an emergency or need assistance. While this can be an effective and convenient way to deploy first responders—whether from police, fire, or emergency medical services (EMS)—community advocates and traditional first responders have long argued that many situations could be better handled by health and social service professionals.

The Response

Since 2020, especially following the murder of George Floyd, communities across the country have been reimagining their approach to public safety by investing in programs that position health and crisis response professionals and community members trained in crisis response as first responders. While the term “community responder program” is relatively new, the concept of expanding first response is not. Now, communities are increasingly including  professionals trained in behavioral health de-escalation, assessment, and response into their 911 and emergency systems.