cover image: Evaluating Alternative Crisis Response in Denver's Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) Program

Evaluating Alternative Crisis Response in Denver's Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) Program

30 Sep 2024

Since 2020, Denver, Colorado, has been operating a crisis-response program known as STAR (Support Team Assisted Response). The STAR program pairs paramedics and behavioral health professionals on designated vans to respond to certain 911 calls in lieu of a conventional response from law enforcement or other first responders. The STAR van teams work to de-escalate the immediate crisis and make referrals to a network of community-based service providers through the STAR Community Coalition. The STAR program offers an alternative to having police respond to behavioral health crises--reducing the potential for clients to experience additional trauma--and connects clients with resources that can help them obtain stability and address their longer-term service needs.
housing metropolitan housing and communities policy center colorado health and health care qualitative data analysis crime, justice, and safety quantitative data analysis denver-aurora-lakewood, co mental health crisis response

Authors

Sarah Gillespie, Will Curran-Groome, Amy Rogin

Related Organizations

Pages
22
Published in
United States of America

Related Topics

All