Cochise County seeks funding to sustain mental‑health 'care team' as grant ends June 30

Cochise County officials said they are searching for funding to sustain a civilian 'care team' that provides immediate, medically trained mental‑health response without law‑enforcement enforcement charges.

Sheriff Mark Danos described the team as a grant‑funded service through the Legacy Foundation that responds to critical incidents, schools and household calls at no charge. "That grant expires June 30," Danos said, adding county and city staff are working to secure continued support to keep the team operational.

Danos recounted a recent incident in which the care team arrived within about 15 minutes to assist an individual who had been endangering himself on Highway 90; the team, he said, transported the person to treatment with consent and later saw the person doing better in the community. He described the responders as civilian, medically trained professionals who are not law enforcement and said the program works with school superintendents and public‑safety partners.

Officials stressed the team’s role as a specialized, non‑police response intended to connect people to treatment. The sheriff said he was optimistic county leaders could find ongoing funding but acknowledged the county faced limits as a rural jurisdiction with constrained resources.

The program’s expiration date and an ongoing funding search mean residents and agencies should expect updates from county and city officials on next steps and any changes in coverage after June 30.