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QUESTION

What led to the funding reduction for the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) program, and was it solely to pause its expansion?

0:42:38

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The funding reduction for the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) program is linked to the freeze in increasing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, limiting the program's expansion.

The rationale for the B-HEARD program is to prioritize sending social workers, alongside EMS personnel, to mental health crises rather than police officers.
The decision against expanding the B-HEARD program stems from the city’s decision to freeze EMS hires, impacting the ability to add more social workers to the program.
Though the B-HEARD program's size currently remains stable, with no plans for immediate increase or decrease, there is hope for future growth.
Mitch Katz, expressing a policy viewpoint, advocates for the eventual expansion of the B-HEARD program, highlighting its significance in addressing mental health crises.

Mercedes Narcisse

0:42:38

In November and preliminary plans, we heard receive a pay.

0:42:43

During the November plan hearing, budget director she has stated that there weren't any more anticipated funding reduction to be heard.

0:42:53

At what point was this funding reduction considered?

0:42:57

2nd, was this bank exclusively to pause in expansion or where the additional reason for why it was put in place.

Mitch Katz

0:43:06

Oh, conceptually chair, we believe in be heard.

0:43:09

We believed it is better to send a social worker to someone having a mental health crisis than a police officer.

0:43:18

Having said that, the social workers that are on our budget are paired with an EMS person from fire department.

0:43:26

And so our staffing will always reflect the number of fire department EMS personnel.

0:43:33

And so when the city fro is the number of increases to EMS at the fire.

0:43:40

We there would be no purpose of hiring the social worker because there's no EMS person for them to go out with.

0:43:47

So right now, the B.

0:43:49

Hurd program is stable.

0:43:51

It's not planned to increase.

0:43:53

It's not planned to decrease.

0:43:55

I hope someday the city does increase it because I think from Apollo the point of view, it's the right thing.

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What is the cost of expanding the B-HEARD program, and what services would it include?