PRESS RELEASE. From the City of Half Moon Bay on March 3rd, 2022.
Beginning March 16, 2022, the City of Half Moon Bay, in partnership with El Centro de Libertad and the County of San Mateo, will launch the Crisis Assistance Response and Evaluation Services (CARES) pilot program. The CARES team will respond to 911 calls involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The team will consist of a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) or other healthcare practitioner, and an experienced behavioral health care clinician.
The CARES team will be unarmed, bilingual in Spanish and English, and be specially trained on the use of culturally competent de-escalation, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, and suicide prevention tools to work with individuals in crisis. The CARES team response will be an alternative to law enforcement, fire, or other first responders. Comparable programs have shown that this kind of response to behavioral health emergencies helps divert individuals from costly visits to emergency rooms and unnecessary entry into the criminal justice system and helps prevent the physical harm or loss of life that sometimes result from armed crisis response.
Following initial assessment, the CARES team will provide clinical interventions, in-person “warm” handoffs to service providers, and follow-up to ensure individuals and families have the support they need while navigating care systems. Ongoing collaboration with local and regional non-profits, government agencies, and the community will be key to the success of the program, and the long-term success of its participants.
“The City of Half Moon Bay is grateful and honored to partner with El Centro de Libertad and County of San Mateo to bring this important pilot program to our community,” said Half Moon Bay Mayor Debbie Ruddock. “In situations involving a mental health crisis, the CARES program will offer an increased focus on non-violent crisis intervention, mental health care, and assistance for the long-term success of the individuals involved – instead of an immediate armed response which may be the wrong approach for individuals in crisis and could have tragic results.”
The CARES team will be dispatched in instances where there is no immediate threat of violence, with Sheriff’s deputies on standby when a higher level of response is needed. Types of calls appropriate for the CARES team include suicidal ideations, persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol, persons experiencing a mental health crisis, parents calling with concern for an adolescent exhibiting unusual behavior, or community members reporting persons in some form of emotional distress. Although these calls would not include situations where medical emergencies or acts of violence are active, the CARES team could also respond to these calls to provide support to first responders.
With a total cost of $150,000, funding for the pilot program includes $75,000 in the City’s General Fund Budget which was set aside for implementation of mental health services such as this pilot program. Thanks to the leadership of County Supervisor Don Horsley, the County has committed $75,000 in matching funds. City staff is researching legislation and pursuing grant opportunities to fund continuation or expansion of the program, including AB 988 and AB 118, which have been signed into law and could potentially provide ongoing funding for the program beginning in 2023.
The City’s partner, El Centro De Libertad, works to help individuals, families and communities of all cultures suffering from the impact of substance abuse and mental health issues to achieve and maintain health, strength, and recovery.
The City will be hosting an outdoor ceremony to commemorate the start of the CARES pilot program on Wednesday, March 16 at the El Centro De Libertad office, 225 Cabrillo Hwy S # 114B, Half Moon Bay, from noon – 2:00 p.m. The event is open to the public, and public health precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are encouraged.
Spanish
News Release - Cares program launch spanish###
The City of Half Moon Bay, located 28 miles south of San Francisco, is a community of about 12,500 people situated on the Peninsula between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastlines that California has to offer. Its historic downtown is home to numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and other businesses, and its celebrated beaches and parks are wonders of nature, accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. With its many activities and events, beautiful natural scenery, old-town charm, and abundance of retail and commercial services, Half Moon Bay is a regional destination. www.hmbcity.com
Contact: Jessica Blair, Communications Director
650-726-8271 (office) / 818-903-0627 (cell)
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Next City of Half Moon Bay Public Safety Committee meeting will be on Thursday, February 9th, 2022.
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August Howell of the Half Moon Bay Review
August Howell is a staff writer for the Review covering city government and public safety. Previously, he was the Review’s community, arts and sports reporter. He studied journalism at the University of Oregon.
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This town (Eugene, OR) of 170,000 replaced some cops with medics and mental health workers. It’s worked for over 30 years
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The New Now ~ Virtual Remote Public Agency Meetings
Watch streaming, or the Pacifica Coast TV video, that we will post. Stay tuned!
The meeting will be held at the Adcock Community Center for any members of the public who wish to speak in person, though we do encourage all members to participate remotely.
The meeting will be:
- streamed live on Comcast Channel 27 and Pacific Coast TV website
- the City’s website online (via Granicus)
- and on Facebook Live
- one in English (City of Half Moon Bay FB Page)
- one in Spanish (City of Half Moon Bay Recreation FB Page)
- Recorded by Pacific Coast TV (PCTV)
Members or the public are welcome to submit comments (in accordance with the three-minute per speaker limit) via email
to jblair@hmbcity.com prior to or during the meeting, via Facebook live during the meeting, and via two phone lines during the meeting – (650) 477-4963 (English) and (650) 445-3090 (Spanish).
The City Clerk will read all comments into the record.
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