Seattle’s CARE Team, made up of non-police emergency responders, has expanded to offer services in South and Southwest Seattle neighborhoods, and is now available citywide.
The CARE Team responds to calls that don’t require police presence, and instead people in need of behavioral health care. Crisis responders are trained behavioral health professionals, and are dispatched to situations that don’t involve the threat of violence or a medical emergency.
“Community crisis responders are doing outstanding work to help people in need and to free up police and fire resources for the calls where they’re needed most, and we will continue to build on the successes of this pilot,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell in a statement.
CARE Team Community Crisis Responders respond to emergencies from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
The Care Team pilot launched near the end of 2023, with six emergency responders serving downtown and the Chinatown International District. It is made up of 24 responders and three supervisors.
