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Board directs report on sustaining and expanding alternative crisis response teams to cut response times
Summary
Supervisors approved a motion directing the Department of Mental Health to report back with funding options and hiring strategies to sustain bonuses and speed hiring for alternate crisis response teams, aiming to cut response times toward a 30‑minute target.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to direct the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to develop funding options and an expedited hiring plan to sustain incentive pay for alternative crisis response field teams and to improve dispatch and response times.
Supervisor Hahn introduced the motion, noting teams have grown from 33 daytime teams in 2021 to 71 teams operating 24/7 with average response times reduced from six hours to two hours. The motion asks DMH to report back with options to maintain and expand signing/retention bonuses (previously funded with one‑time ARPA dollars), to consider geographic bonuses, stronger college partnerships, and operational changes to reduce dispatch time.
Supervisor Horvath and others emphasized the program's success and urged a 60‑day report back with recruitment and retention plans. Supervisor Mitchell requested the report address staff barriers such as childcare that affect willingness to take night shifts.
Family members and mental‑health advocates spoke in support. Jason Enrich and several representatives of NAMI and other community groups described the program as lifesaving and urged continued investment to reach a practical response standard for callers.
The board approved the motion unanimously and directed DMH to return with a report (supervisors requested a 60‑day timeframe) that outlines funding options and operational changes to improve hiring and response.
