Crisis Response Team Will Provide Mental Health Support In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — In an effort to improve community healthy and safety, the City of Long Beach launched its Community Crisis Response Team on Monday.

The five-person team will respond to service calls including mental health support, health education and resource navigation for underprivileged and unhoused people throughout Long Beach. The program consists of specialized non-law enforcement professionals who will respond to calls.

“This initiative marks a significant step towards better serving individuals in mental health crises while also easing the burden on our emergency response services,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Together, we are creating a path that prioritizes community health and safety through compassionate, health-based approaches."

Individuals that make up the CCR field team include a Crisis Intervention Specialist, Public Health Nurse and Peer Navigator. Additionally, a Program Manager and a Team Supervisor will provide support and consultation to the team as needs arise, officials said.

The CCR will offer support including:

• Crisis intervention support;
• De-escalation;
• General health education;
• Suicide assessment and intervention;
• Items for basic needs;
• Triage to people requiring minimal medical aid;
• Transportation to resources, such as housing services or the Multi-Service Center;
• Resource navigation and referral support

"The CCR Team will respond to call types involving a mental health crisis, suicidal caller, public intoxication, unwelcome person, welfare checks and disturbances," city officials said.

The team will not respond to calls involving violent behavior, people in possession of a weapon, medical emergencies, possible crimes or threats to the safety of others.

Community members are not able to contact the CCr directly, rather they can be requested by law enforcement units in circumstances where police or fire authorities believe a call would benefit from mental health support.

"The CCR pilot is part of the City’s Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative, grounded in a vision where race and ethnicity alone do not determine social and economic outcomes for those who live and work in Long Beach," officials said.

Funding for the program has been allocated from the Recovery Act to support Long Beach's violence prevention and safe cities programs. A total of $3.6 million was distributed to various city safety programs, according to the city.