When identifying legislative champions, community stakeholder groups should consider people who are already driving conversations about ways to reimagine public safety and the need for community responder programs in their neighborhoods. Once identified, programs should work with these champions to introduce the bill, create strategies for how and when to involve other stakeholders, and develop a plan to respond to any opposition.

When developing a legislative strategy, it is important to determine the goals of the legislation, such as developing a pilot program, funding a responder program, creating a community stakeholder group to identify next steps, or starting a systems strategy.

When creating legislation for the community responder program, it is important to ensure that it address specific local needs, whether those are mental health, suicidality, substance use, drug overdoses, homelessness, or other poverty-related issues. Community members should also have opportunities to give meaningful feedback on what would work best for their jurisdiction, which could include town hall meetings, focus groups, or other avenues for public engagement. It is also important to garner support from behavioral health providers, law enforcement, and the different public safety systems in the community, as legislation will not typically move forward without their buy-in.