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LA County presents expansion of alternative crisis response; highlights 988 usage, field teams and coordination with city programs
Summary
County Department of Mental Health officials briefed the City Council ad hoc committee on the Alternative Crisis Response (ACR) system, reporting increased call volume, expanded field teams and ongoing coordination with city unarmed response programs; officials cited continued hiring challenges and funding uncertainty.
Representatives of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provided a verbal overview of the county's alternative crisis response (ACR) system to the Los Angeles City Council ad hoc committee on alternative crisis response.
Ruben Wilson, head of the ACR unit at DMH, explained the county's 24/7 crisis system and said it is designed to provide an alternative to law enforcement for many behavioral health incidents. Wilson described a four-part continuum: 988 or a 24/7 helpline as entry points; 24/7 field response teams; short-term alternatives to hospitalization such as psychiatric urgent care centers (UCCs); and follow-up to connect people to long-term care.
DMH officials reported that Didi Hirsch operates the county's 988 center for calls, texts and chats; when an issue cannot be resolved by phone, Didi Hirsch can refer callers to DMH for an in-person field response. DMH said LAPD has been an early adopter of diverting certain 911 calls to 988.
Key metrics presented by DMH:
- 988 receives roughly…
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