Behavioral Crisis Response

The Behavioral Crisis Response was initiated after an increase in community calls for alternative public safety responses following the Murder of George Floyd.{{cite news |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Mohamed |title=Minneapolis behavioral crisis response program a success, say city leaders |url=https://www.minnpost.com/public-safety/2024/02/minneapolis-behavioral-crisis-response-program-a-success-say-city-leaders/ |access-date=25 April 2024 |work=Minn Post |date=February 28, 2024}} The team launched in December 2021, with two vans operating from Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM-midnight.{{cite news |author1=CBS Minnesota |title=City Of Minneapolis Officially Launches BCR Team To Address Mental Health Emergencies |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/city-of-minneapolis-officially-launches-bcr-team-to-address-mental-health-emergencies/ |access-date=25 April 2024 |agency=WCCO News |publisher=CBS |date=December 13, 2021}} By June 2022, the city was routing 114 BCR calls per week. By April 2022, operations were expanded to 24 hours a day on weekdays, and 9{{nbsp}}am–4{{nbsp}}pm on Saturday and Sunday.{{Cite web |last=Public Health & Safety Committee |date=September 14, 2022 |title=Unarmed Public Safety Response Pilot Update – Q2 |url=https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/RCAV2/28530/Q2-Unarmed-Public-Safety-Pilot-Updates-PHS-9-14-2022.pdf}} The initial program implementation also included training for 911 responders in mental health.

The 2021–2022 contract was for $6 million over 2 years.{{Cite web |title=2021-00736 - Behavioral Crisis Response pilot |url=https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2021-00736 |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=lims.minneapolismn.gov}} Mayor Jacob Frey proposed an expansion of the program for the 2023–2024 city budget.{{Cite web |last=Halter |first=Nick |date=2022-09-16 |title=Minneapolis' mental health responders provide alternative to police and ambulances |url=https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/09/16/minneapolis-mental-health-responders-alternative-police |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Axios |language=en}} The budget expansion was approved and brought the total to $5.9 million annually for 2023-2024.{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Pafoua |last2=Fitzgerald |first2=Kilat |title=Minneapolis city leaders ‘highlight success’ of Behavioral Crisis Response Program |url=https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minneapolis-city-leaders-highlight-success-of-behavioral-crisis-response-program/ |access-date=25 April 2024 |agency=KSTP |date=February 27, 2024}}

The 2023 investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department by the US Department of Justice cited several issues with the city's response to mental health calls prior to 2021, noting violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, after investigators did ride-alongs with these responders, the report praised the BCR program for their "timely, compassionate, and impactful services."{{cite web |author1=United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division |author2=United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota Civil Division |title=Investigation of the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department |url=https://www.justice.gov/media/1300606/dl |website=United States Department of Justice |access-date=25 April 2024|page=62|date=June 16, 2023}}

The Behavioral Crisis Response team is run by Canopy Mental Health & Consulting, also known as Canopy Roots.{{cite news |last1=Wurzer |first1=Cathy |last2=Brown |first2=Gretchen |title=Minneapolis behavioral crisis response team says its success is despite lack of support from city |url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2023/07/18/minneapolis-behavioral-crisis-response-team-says-its-success-is-despite-city |access-date=25 April 2024 |agency=Minnesota Public Radio |date=July 18, 2023}} This team of unarmed mental health care professionals and mental health practitioners operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with three vans in the daytime and two overnight.{{cite web |title=Behavioral Crisis Response Team quick guide |url=https://www.minneapolismn.gov/media/-www-content-assets/documents/BCR-Infographic-2.2.22.pdf |website=City of Minneapolis |access-date=25 April 2024}} In order to receive a response from the BCR team, mental health crisis calls must not involve weapon(s), physical violence, medical emergencies, or drugs/alcohol.

Unlike a police Crisis Intervention Team, BCR dispatches pairs of trained mental health workers without administration by the police, acting more as a mobile crisis unit. Teams are dispatched directly from 911. Responders are dressed in casual navy blue instead of a uniform; they arrive to crises in a white van, without lights or sirens, marked with the City of Minneapolis and Canopy Roots Logos and the letters "BCR". In an arrangement like that between police and fire departments, both BCR and the MPD are able to request assistance from each other when circumstances change.{{cite news |last1=Erdahl |first1=Kent |title=3,300 calls, 0 injuries: Minneapolis Behavioral Crisis Response teams quietly winning over skeptics |url=https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/breaking-the-news/minneapolis-behavioral-crisis-response-teams-quietly-winning-over-skeptics/89-1d8b6817-b157-4056-8e8d-72286e7b4a1f |access-date=25 April 2024 |agency=Kare 11 News |date=September 16, 2022}}

The city also maintains a separate non-emergency response call line, "311". This call line can handle issues such as parking and traffic issues, as well as theft and property damage. Theft and property damage calls are still reported to the police. Parking and traffic issues route through traffic control. The 311 number also only operates from 7 am to 7 pm. From April through June 2022, 1,600 calls were routed through the 311 number.

• CAHOOTS (crisis response)
• Police crisis intervention team
• Mobile Crisis

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.canopymhc.com/ Canopy Mental Health & Consulting Official website]
• [https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/unarmed-public-safety/behavioral-crisis-response/ City Behavioral Crisis Response website]

Category:Government of Minneapolis

Category:Mental health organizations based in Minnesota

Category:Emergency services in Minnesota

Category:Law enforcement non-governmental organizations in the United States

Category:Criminal justice reform in the United States

Category:Emergency mental health services

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