• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
WRAP

WRAP

Western Regional Advocacy Project

  • Donate Now
  • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Mission
    • Strategy
    • Members
    • Board / Staff
  • Campaigns
    • Business Improvement Districts
    • House Keys Not Sweeps
    • Homeless Bill of Rights
    • Oregon Right To Rest
    • Without Housing
    • Street Outreach
  • Organizing Tools
    • Without Housing Organizing Toolkit
    • Homeless Bill of Rights Campaign Manual
    • WRAP Organizers Manual
    • WRAP Artwork
  • Resources
    • Art in Action Power Point Slide Show
    • Hobos to Street People
    • House Keys Book
    • Political Education
    • Legal Research
  • Media
    • Blog
    • Hobos to Street People Art Show
    • Street Newspapers
    • Sweeps Gallery Videos
    • Videos
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Become a Monthly Sustainer
    • Volunteer
    • Support WRAP
    • WRAP Newsletters & Updates Sign Up

ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE PILOT LAUNCHES IN DENVER

June 8, 2020 by Jonathan 1 Comment

Some Denverites can now call 911 to get help from a mental health professional and paramedic instead of police in an emergency

Denver, CO – On Monday, June 1st, an alternative emergency response service for mental health, substance use, and other public health emergencies was dispatched for the first time in Denver as part of a pilot program known as Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) that will be run for 6 months in central Denver before its intended expansion to the rest of the city. The STAR service is a mobile crisis intervention in which a van carrying a mental health clinician and a paramedic is dispatched to provide free medical care, first aid, or mental health support for a broad range of non-criminal emergencies such as drug overdoses, suicidal individuals, mental illness problems, intoxication, and more. The STAR service is dispatched through Denver’s 911 communications center, and it is intended to divert these types of calls away from police officers and toward mental health and medical professionals. The new initiative is modeled on the Crisis Assistance Helping Out in The Streets (CAHOOTS) program in Eugene, Oregon which has been staffed and managed by local social service agency White Bird Clinic since 1989.

During its first week, STAR personnel have already conducted welfare checks, provided support to individuals experiencing suicidal ideation, reconnected people with their community service providers, and assisted with other types of crisis situations. The STAR van has been and will continue to be dispatched to support both people experiencing homelessness and those living in personal residences. STAR’s unarmed personnel have no law enforcement function or authority and offer all services and transportation on a purely voluntary and confidential basis to the recipients.

For its initial 6 months, this pilot program will only operate in the central downtown area (broadly, from York St. to I-25 east to west and 38th St. / 40th Ave. to 6th Avenue north to south) and along the South Broadway corridor to Mississippi Ave., with service also being provided to the temporary shelters at the Denver Coliseum and National Western Complex. As of now, the STAR service will be available in these areas between 10am-6pm, which is when the highest volume of public health emergency calls are received by Denver 911, though different hours of service may be experimented with during the pilot.

During the pilot, the STAR alternative response vans will be staffed by mental health clinicians from Mental Health Center of Denver and paramedics from Denver Health who will be dispatched in response to calls received by Denver’s 911 communications center, or calls received from Denver’s non-emergency line at 720-913-2000. Though the pilot, funded by the taxpayers of Denver through the Caring for Denver Foundation, will be limited in its area and hours of service while data is collected and supporting partnerships grow, the hope is for the service to eventually be scaled up to serve the entire City & County of Denver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that it would be staffed and supported by community-based health provider organizations, clinics, and agencies.

While the STAR alternative response pilot was never intended to be rolled out in the midst of recent protests against police violence and had been in planning for years before them, its launch is nonetheless timely, as communities seek concrete methods for ending our city’s and our nation’s reliance on policing and the broken criminal justice system to address public health problems. The community groups advocating for a program like STAR in Denver have intended for it to handle calls that would otherwise be responded to by police, diverting such calls away from law enforcement-oriented responders who have been inappropriately tasked to be defacto social workers when they are first to the scene of a mental health crisis, and instead ensuring that the more appropriate mental and physical health experts will be the first on the scene.

“In our view, the STAR program is really a form of preventative medicine for police violence,” said Roshan Bliss, co-chair of the Denver Justice Project. “It is a tangible demonstration that communities can and should create models to handle public safety without relying on police who have been inappropriately been given responsibility for responding to many social problems, and we hope that more such alternatives will continue to be created here in Denver.”

Vinnie Cervantes with Denver Alliance for Street Health Response (DASHR) noted that the launch of this pilot program is welcome progress for the effort overall. “DASHR has been organizing a community coalition to make a program like CAHOOTS possible in Denver since 2018. We insist that a program like this must be community-owned and led and DASHR will work to ensure that happens while envisioning the launch of a full program when the pilot is done. We are excited to see this launch and determined to keep working.”

Lisa Raville from Harm Reduction Action Center said, “STAR is a harm reduction intervention that provides for a healthier and safer Denver. STAR is about getting the right people to the right scene for de-escalation efforts, reducing incarceration, and providing proper care. We believe this program to be a true game changer in our community and are incredibly supportive of this initiative.”

The STAR alternative response initiative program’s pilot launch is the result of years of advocacy and planning from a constellation of community organizations and service providers that began in 2017 at a community forum called “It Doesn’t Have to Be Like This,” the Denver Justice Project hosted (DJP), aimed at highlighting serious alternatives to police, prisons, and the broken judicial system. A video address from staff of the White Bird Clinic served as the event’s keynote to highlight the CAHOOTS model as an alternative to police-based emergency responses, and the group committed to working toward importing the model to Denver. DJP helped coordinate a trip to Eugene for a delegation of representatives from community groups, social service providers, and Denver’s emergency response system to learn directly from White Bird Clinic about the CAHOOTS service in May of 2019. A working group of stakeholders was formed shortly after the trip that has planned and coordinated the pilot launch, and the same group will oversee the pilot and continue to plan for its eventual city-wide expansion. The STAR initiative has been supported by several members of Denver City Council members and leaders from the Denver Safety Department, including Chief Paul Pazen who has committed the Denver Police Department’s full cooperation with the new service since the beginning of his tenure.

“As a parent and community member I am relieved and excited for the STAR program to launch,” said Janet van der Laak, who has a son living with severe mental illness. “This program will provide a safe alternative for mental health response. This will eliminate police contact and keep people like my son from being caught in the vicious cycle of the judicial system.”

###

Denver Justice Project
Mental Health Center of Denver
Denver Alliance for Street Health Response
Denver Homeless Out Loud
and Harm Reduction Action Center

Filed Under: Denver Homeless Out Loud, News

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathryn Griffith says

    June 16, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    This is an exciting pilot program; I am tentatively hopeful about it having a positive impact to lower risk and shift how people interact with the police. I am currently doing research on a similar program that began in California in January 2018. Did you write about it? I tried searching the archives but might have missed it.

    Thanks and power to the people

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Footer

Instagram Feed

On August 11th, Newsom's "Care" Act passed out of On August 11th, Newsom's "Care" Act passed out of the Appropriations Committee. The bill was amended on the 15th and will be scheduled for a floor vote any time between August 17th and 31st. https://conta.cc/3dz2NzQ
Part 12... Infractions and Due Process Rights Ant Part 12...
Infractions and Due Process Rights 
Anti-homeless laws and ordinances and their application have, in fact, created a loophole that allows for the circumvention of a homeless person’s right to due process under law. The process by which homeless people face repeated incarceration generally follows this scenario: A homeless man is sleeping on the sidewalk. A local ordinance makes it illegal to do so. The man gets a ticket and is later arrested for not paying the ticket. He spends a couple of days in jail, and is just as homeless now as he was before, only now he has a criminal record. This was the case for many of the individuals interviewed by RWHP. One man relayed the familiar scenario, “I was sleeping in a tent in a hidden spot near the freeway. They gave me a ticket for trespassing. I don’t have money to pay it. I’ve never been in jail before. I keep to myself, but now they’re going to make me a convict just for sleeping.”
SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TALKING DOWN THE PEOPLES TOWMH SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TALKING DOWN THE PEOPLES TOWMHOMES ENCAMPMENT https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChAT9N5jNTY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This morning @phillysheriff ‘s came and evicted our protest encampment to Save the UC Townhomes. When asked why they were doing it, Rochelle Bilal responded that she “felt compassion for the townhomes residents but was just doing my job”

Even if the tents are gone WE AINT GOIN NOWHERE‼️
Saturday AUGUST 27 — 9 am to 4pm Sunday AUGUST 2 Saturday AUGUST 27 — 9 am to 4pm
Sunday AUGUST 28 — 12:30pm to 4pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church
1300 N Street, Sacramento

https://wraphome.org/2022/08/02/sacramento-ca-advocates-community-summit-on-homelessness-august-27-28th/
California. (S)Care Court Hearing Tomorrow 8/3 Las California. (S)Care Court Hearing Tomorrow 8/3 Last Hearing before floor Vote
https://conta.cc/3vzRoWo
Part 11 ... California’s “anti-Okie” laws of Part 11 ...
California’s “anti-Okie” laws of the 1930s and the South’s Jim Crow laws in effect from the late 1800s to the 1950s are examples of the kinds of local laws overturned in previous generations. Yet, modern “quality of life” legislation and enforcement targeting homeless people can be found in communities across the nation.
The City Council postponed their vote on the 41.18 The City Council postponed their vote on the 41.18 expansion to August 2nd. If passed, this motion will add approximately 1,900 additional sites–a 376% increase in exclusionary zones across the city. 41.18 would then cover at least 88 sq miles (that’s 20% of the entire city).

Services Not Sweeps is urging EVERYONE to come to City Hall at 9:00am on August 2 and tell City Council that 41.18 is BAD POLICY and should be repealed.

When we fight, we win. 
But this fight isn’t over.

The community flooded City Hall inside and out on Wednesday to protest the expansion of 41.18 but the fight is not over. It’s clear that President Nury Martinez and friends weren’t prepared for our numbers and realized they were unable to rally their (few but loud) 41.18 supporters. Council delayed the vote to Tuesday August 2nd in an attempt to erode our momentum and stifle our voices. 
 
We won’t let that happen. The fight now is to keep the pressure on and show up next week!! See you next Tuesday 9am. Bring a friend.
 
WHO: You and your friends!
WHERE: City Hall, 200 N Spring St 
WHEN: Tuesday August 2nd at 9:00am
HOW: Read more details on our toolkit.
AGENDA ITEM 14 https://lacity.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=102513
Part 10... In fact, however, enforcement is very m Part 10...
In fact, however, enforcement is very much impacted by both skin color and appearance. Local governments cannot legally discriminate against people strictly because they do not have housing. Federal protections prohibit local and state governments from removing people from their communities due to the color of their skin or economic/employment status.
Part 9... This nationwide pattern has escaped Civi Part 9... This nationwide pattern has escaped Civil Rights protections because on their face, these programs are not clearly discriminatory. Local laws are often drafted in such a way as to appear to apply equally to all people in a community.
Part 8... While certain communities highlight diff Part 8...
While certain communities highlight different controls at different times, often depending upon the outcome of local elections and legislative and court efforts, all have one primary common goal: to remove the presence and resulting impact of people without housing from local communities. As the Mayor of Las Vegas stated when she outlawed feeding people in city parks: “If we stop feeding them, they will leave.”
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Facebook Icon

Facebook Feed

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Statewide fight against Newsom's "Care"-LESS Courts continues!

web-extract.constantcontact.com

Thank you to everyone who signed the open letter to Governor Newsom urging him to reconsider his CARE Court proposal. There were over 500 si...
3 days ago
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Twitter Icon

Twitter Feed

16 Aug 1559579585251102720

On August 11th, Newsom's "Care" Act passed out of the Appropriations Committee. The bill was amended on the 15th and will be scheduled for a floor vote any time between August 17th and 31st. https://conta.cc/3JXM4SF
https://conta.cc/3QOytPM

Image for the Tweet beginning: On August 11th, Newsom's "Care" Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 1559579585251102720 Retweet on Twitter 1559579585251102720 1 Like on Twitter 1559579585251102720 0 Twitter 1559579585251102720
16 Aug 1559459020678713344

#NoCARECourt KPFK Lawyers Guild Show "CARE" court Wed. 8/17 - 2-3pm - WRAP

Image for twitter card

#NoCARECourt KPFK Lawyers Guild Show "CARE" court Wed. 8/17 - 2-3pm - WRAP

Tune in Wed., Aug. 17 from 2-3pm on KPFK 90.7 FM for this week’s edition of the Lawyers Guild Show. First...

wraphome.org

Reply on Twitter 1559459020678713344 Retweet on Twitter 1559459020678713344 0 Like on Twitter 1559459020678713344 1 Twitter 1559459020678713344
15 Aug 1559254754945015808

Thank you to everyone who signed the open letter to Governor Newsom urging him to reconsider his CARE Court proposal. There were over 500 signatories!

Image for twitter card

Sacramento, CA. Open Letter to Governor Newsom re: Opposition to CARE Court - WRAP

Dear Allies, Thank you to everyone who signed the open letter to Governor Newsom urging him to reconsider his CA...

wraphome.org

Reply on Twitter 1559254754945015808 Retweet on Twitter 1559254754945015808 4 Like on Twitter 1559254754945015808 7 Twitter 1559254754945015808
15 Aug 1559254073630527488

"Tiny homes" not a homeless solution in any location via @TheMiamiTimes

Image for twitter card

"Tiny homes" not a homeless solution in any location

While the bad reviews of Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo's 'tiny homes' proposal for Virginia Key, now catching ...

www.miamitimesonline.com

Reply on Twitter 1559254073630527488 Retweet on Twitter 1559254073630527488 4 Like on Twitter 1559254073630527488 8 Twitter 1559254073630527488
Retweet on Twitter WRAP Retweeted
11 Aug 1557824221996130304

Join us and our friends @APTPaction to say NO to C.A.R.E Court next Thursday, August 18th for a teach-in followed by feeding the people, and a march!

RSVP on Facebook here: https://fb.me/e/1CFrMznNP

Image for the Tweet beginning: Join us and our friends Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 1557824221996130304 Retweet on Twitter 1557824221996130304 15 Like on Twitter 1557824221996130304 20 Twitter 1557824221996130304
Load More...

YouTube icon

Youtube Code

Our Channel

Copyright © 2022 Western Regional Advocacy Project WRAP · Log in