inRESPONSE Van (picture courtesy of the City of Santa Rosa)
Santa Rosa’s new mental health emergency response team has been unveiled. The inRESPONSE name, logo, and van were unveiled this past week at the city council meeting. The program is designed to prevent emergencies or potential crimes by “getting people the services they need before they go into crisis.” Staff will include licensed mental health clinicians, a fire department paramedic, a homeless outreach specialist and holistic wraparound support service provider. The program will launch in December and will begin operating 10 hours a day, every day, and will eventually expand to 24/7. It is modeled after the Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets unit, or CAHOOTS, in Eugene, Oregon.