San Francisco City Council reviews effectiveness of street teams for mental health crises
April 20, 2022 | San Francisco County, California
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San Francisco County officials convened a hearing to assess the effectiveness of citywide street teams aimed at addressing homelessness and mental health crises. The meeting, led by Supervisor Ronan, emphasized a collective goal shared by city leaders and departments: to reduce the San Francisco Police Department's (SFPD) involvement in non-criminal responses, allowing law enforcement to focus on crime prevention and investigation.
The discussion highlighted the ongoing efforts of various street teams, including the Street Crisis Response Team and the Healthy Streets Operation Center, which have been operational for about a year. These teams are designed to provide immediate support to individuals experiencing mental health crises or homelessness, with the intention of diverting such calls away from police intervention.
Despite the establishment of these teams, data presented during the meeting indicated that calls for police service related to mental health crises have not significantly declined. While the Street Crisis Response Team has seen an increase in its call responses—from handling about 10% of relevant calls in its early months to approximately 59% recently—the police still respond to a substantial number of these incidents. This dual response system remains in place, with police stepping in when the street teams are unavailable or unable to respond.
The hearing also addressed the need for further improvements, including full staffing of the street teams and enhanced emergency medical dispatch protocols. These changes are expected to streamline the response process, ensuring that non-criminal situations are handled by trained medical professionals rather than law enforcement.
As the city continues to invest in these innovative approaches to crisis management, officials expressed optimism about the potential for success in reducing police involvement in non-criminal matters. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing evaluation and adjustment of strategies to better serve the community's needs.
The discussion highlighted the ongoing efforts of various street teams, including the Street Crisis Response Team and the Healthy Streets Operation Center, which have been operational for about a year. These teams are designed to provide immediate support to individuals experiencing mental health crises or homelessness, with the intention of diverting such calls away from police intervention.
Despite the establishment of these teams, data presented during the meeting indicated that calls for police service related to mental health crises have not significantly declined. While the Street Crisis Response Team has seen an increase in its call responses—from handling about 10% of relevant calls in its early months to approximately 59% recently—the police still respond to a substantial number of these incidents. This dual response system remains in place, with police stepping in when the street teams are unavailable or unable to respond.
The hearing also addressed the need for further improvements, including full staffing of the street teams and enhanced emergency medical dispatch protocols. These changes are expected to streamline the response process, ensuring that non-criminal situations are handled by trained medical professionals rather than law enforcement.
As the city continues to invest in these innovative approaches to crisis management, officials expressed optimism about the potential for success in reducing police involvement in non-criminal matters. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing evaluation and adjustment of strategies to better serve the community's needs.
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