City outlines 'connected care' outreach: ACS brings medical, behavioral health and ID services to neighborhoods

Jody Esquivel, director of the Community Safety Department, briefed the council on ACS's "connected care" events, which place medical, behavioral‑health, housing‑navigation and ID services in high‑volume neighborhoods.

Esquivel said the program is a proactive response to elevated call volumes: she said 311 calls and other service requests have risen and that ACS is expanding services via an intergovernmental agreement with UNM Street Medicine and partnerships with Goodwill and the Veterans Integration Center. "This is quite literally meeting our community where they are," Esquivel said.

Councilors complimented the program and asked operational questions about staffing, costs and security partnerships. Director Keener and other staff described progress on transit reliability, a reduction in missed transit service metrics and a multi‑pronged transit safety approach that includes transit safety officers, APD transit partners and contracted security at hubs.

Councilors also pressed for data: some asked for route‑by‑route datasets and clarification of handoff protocols among APD, ACS and transit safety officers; staff said dispatch systems and shared channels are used to coordinate responses and that further dashboards and geographic overlays will be deployed.

Why it matters: The program aims to reduce reliance on emergency services by meeting needs in the field, connecting people to housing and treatment, and reducing repeat calls. Officials emphasized partnerships and integrating services with public safety dispatch.