Mental health professionals join police in responding to 911 calls

DES MOINES, Iowa —
Starting Tuesday, the city of Des Moines is partnering up with health care professionals to expand mental health services. The Crisis Advocacy Response Effort or “CARE” program, is where mental health professionals from Broadlawns Medical Center work with Des Moines police to answer and respond to 911 calls.

The team of three will be split up into two groups. One person is at the dispatch center while the other two will respond on the street. Their job is to help dispatch staff screen mental health calls and figure out what level of response is needed. read more