Copyright Axios. This item appeared today. I have not independently
verified any of the information that appears below. Does anyone have
experience with, or additional knowledge of this program?
"Unarmed mental health professionals responded to more than 3,300 911 calls
in Minneapolis over the first six months of a pilot program meant to reduce
the need for police or ambulances for people experiencing mental health
crises.
Why it matters: Advocates for the program, which launched in December, say
mental health professionals are better equipped to help people in certain
situations.
How it works: A city contractor, Canopy Mental Health & Consulting, sends
vans of small teams to aid people experiencing mental health crises. The
person being assisted must be unarmed, non-violent, and not suffering a
medical emergency.
Zoom in: In one recent example, responders helped a woman after her husband
dialed 911 and said she was suicidal and had been declining medical
appointments, Canopy responder Anna Macias told the Minneapolis Public
Safety Committee during a presentation Wednesday.
- The responders helped schedule a doctor's visit and create a safety
plan, and no ambulance was needed.
What they're saying: Canopy program manager Candace Hanson said at the
committee meeting that no staff were harmed doing their jobs, which shows
that staff are following protocol and treating community members with
“respect and equality."
What's ahead: The program was expanded in April, but it still doesn't have
staffing for Saturday and Sunday overnights.
- On more than 350 occasions over three months, responders showed up and
the person in crisis was already gone, which city staff said could indicate
they aren't getting to the scene fast enough due to staffing shortages.
By the numbers: Canopy is working on a two-year, $6 million contract with
the city, which is about 1% of the Minneapolis Police Department's $196
million annual budget.
- *Mayor Jacob Frey *recommended expanding the program to 24/7 in
his proposed
2023-2024 budget
<https://link.axios.com/click/29071452.66148/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWlubmVhcG9saXNtbi5nb3YvbmV3cy8yMDIyL2F1Z3VzdC9tYXlvcnMtcmVjb21tZW5kZWQtMjAyMy1hbmQtMjAyNC1idWRnZXQtLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX21pbm5lYXBvbGlzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/6158e95027ea6c265d076d3eB57d9e474>
."
Reactions welcome,
Joe Nathan, lives in St Paul, works with and learns from people in
Minneapolis
verified any of the information that appears below. Does anyone have
experience with, or additional knowledge of this program?
"Unarmed mental health professionals responded to more than 3,300 911 calls
in Minneapolis over the first six months of a pilot program meant to reduce
the need for police or ambulances for people experiencing mental health
crises.
Why it matters: Advocates for the program, which launched in December, say
mental health professionals are better equipped to help people in certain
situations.
How it works: A city contractor, Canopy Mental Health & Consulting, sends
vans of small teams to aid people experiencing mental health crises. The
person being assisted must be unarmed, non-violent, and not suffering a
medical emergency.
Zoom in: In one recent example, responders helped a woman after her husband
dialed 911 and said she was suicidal and had been declining medical
appointments, Canopy responder Anna Macias told the Minneapolis Public
Safety Committee during a presentation Wednesday.
- The responders helped schedule a doctor's visit and create a safety
plan, and no ambulance was needed.
What they're saying: Canopy program manager Candace Hanson said at the
committee meeting that no staff were harmed doing their jobs, which shows
that staff are following protocol and treating community members with
“respect and equality."
What's ahead: The program was expanded in April, but it still doesn't have
staffing for Saturday and Sunday overnights.
- On more than 350 occasions over three months, responders showed up and
the person in crisis was already gone, which city staff said could indicate
they aren't getting to the scene fast enough due to staffing shortages.
By the numbers: Canopy is working on a two-year, $6 million contract with
the city, which is about 1% of the Minneapolis Police Department's $196
million annual budget.
- *Mayor Jacob Frey *recommended expanding the program to 24/7 in
his proposed
2023-2024 budget
<https://link.axios.com/click/29071452.66148/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWlubmVhcG9saXNtbi5nb3YvbmV3cy8yMDIyL2F1Z3VzdC9tYXlvcnMtcmVjb21tZW5kZWQtMjAyMy1hbmQtMjAyNC1idWRnZXQtLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX21pbm5lYXBvbGlzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/6158e95027ea6c265d076d3eB57d9e474>
."
Reactions welcome,
Joe Nathan, lives in St Paul, works with and learns from people in
Minneapolis
