Chicago's CARE Team Answers Mental Health Crises Without Cops

When someone is in crisis but doesn't need police, Chicago now has an answer that's changing lives one call at a time.

The city's Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program sends licensed therapists and paramedics to mental health emergencies instead of law enforcement. On August 1, Austin residents gathered to learn how this compassionate alternative works and what other behavioral health resources exist in their neighborhood.

"Just because a person has a mental illness, that's not usually the crisis," explained Tiffany Patton-Burnside, CARE's senior director. "The crisis is four other things that have happened on top of the mental illness that have now caused this person's life to be unmanageable."

The CARE team responds to calls without violence, weapons, physical injury, or active suicide attempts. Once on scene, they assess what's really going on beneath the surface and help stabilize the situation.

What makes CARE different is where they take people. Instead of automatic hospital trips, teams might transport someone to their aunt's house, a Walgreens for prescription pickup, or a crisis stabilization unit. The goal is solving the actual problem, not just removing someone from public view.

Cook County Health and local organizations like BUILD Chicago, Austin Coming Together, and Austin Garden Collective organized the community event to connect neighbors with these resources. They originally planned volunteer gardening, but rain turned the morning into a valuable information session instead.

Other groups filled in the gaps. UCAN offers mobile crisis response across Chicagoland for uninsured and underinsured residents. NAMI Chicago provides education and support. Together, these organizations are building a safety net that meets people where they are.

The Ripple Effect

When crisis responders address root causes instead of symptoms, everyone benefits. Families learn that mental health emergencies don't require handcuffs. Communities see fewer people cycling through emergency rooms. People in crisis get connected to resources that prevent the next emergency.

CARE currently operates weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with plans to extend hours this fall. The mayor's vision is 24/7 availability, but that requires more funding and staff.

Chamika Moore from Austin Garden Collective saw the bigger picture. "We do have a lot of resources at our disposal, so how can we work together collectively to bridge those gaps and give the help to the community that needs it?"

That August gathering showed what's possible when organizations stop working in silos and start collaborating. By learning what each group offers, they can refer people to the right help at the right time.

Chicago is proving that mental health crises deserve mental health solutions, and neighbors are showing up to make sure everyone knows help is available.