We are an advocacy group in Knoxville, TN that believes in compassionate, evidence-based response to mental health crises.
Knoxville needs an alternative response team!
-
An alternative response team pairs a behavioral health specialist and a medic who are dispatched by 911 for non-violent calls.
They respond to a wide range of mental health-related crises, including conflict resolution, wellness checks, substance use, suicidal ideation, and more.
An alternative response team is an evidence based model to improve outcomes for those in crisis and to save the city and taxpayers’ money.
-
When police respond to mental health related 911 calls, there is an increased risk of escalation, arrest, and more.
When police respond to calls, many people might respond in fear and become more escalated because of previous negative experiences with police and/or fear of getting arrested.
Behavioral health specalists are trained in trauma-informed care and de-escalation strategies.
-
Many people are scared to call 911 when their loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis.
This disproportionally impacts our neighbors who are Black or Brown, LGBTQ, and those living with disabilities, mental illness, substance use & homelessness.
People with serious mental health disorders are 16 times more likely than the general public to be killed during a police encounter. An alternative response program allows compassionate, safe 911 response.
“Using 911 data from eight cities, we estimate that between 33 and 68 percent of police calls for service could be handled without sending an armed officer to the scene.”
—The Center for American Progress
