Raleigh Council authorizes pilot crisis diversion line, advances Raleigh Cares program

Raleigh City Council on a voice vote authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Alliance Health to operate a crisis call diversion line and approved a budget transfer to support program start-up costs for a pilot.

The action advances Raleigh Cares, a multi-component program described by staff as separate from the Raleigh Police Department's ACORNS unit and intended to broaden non-police crisis response options. City staff told council the contract for the diversion line is for a pilot and that the not-to-exceed amount for the pilot is $546,114.

City Manager's Office staff member Michelle Millette told the council the Raleigh Cares program has three components and that council would receive updates on staffing and launch timelines. "Raleigh Cares itself is just Raleigh Cares and that includes 3 components," Millette said in her presentation. She said the city would show progress and data through a software dashboard the city contracted for, and stressed the separation in name and role between…