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Q&A
Discussion on Co-Response Teams (CRTs) program details and funding
1:01:32
·
3 min
Council Member Linda Lee inquires about the Co-Response Teams (CRTs) program, which is a collaboration between DOHMH and NYPD. The discussion covers the program's structure, budget, and coverage across New York City's five boroughs.
- CRTs consist of two police officers and one behavioral health professional, not separate teams
- The program aims to engage individuals impacted by the criminal justice system and at risk for serious mental illness
- The budget for FY '26 is $5 million for DOHMH's portion, not including NYPD costs
Linda Lee
1:01:32
And I'm just gonna do one more line of questioning with the co response teams and then sort of pass off to my colleagues and then come back for a second round, but for the CRTs it's budgeted right now for 5,000,000 in the executive plan and this is the collaboration between DOHMH and NYPD with the goal of serving individuals with mental health or substance use challenges who are at an elevated risk of harm.
1:01:56
The team consists of two police officers and one behavioral health professional.
1:02:02
I know in 2022 the CRTs pilot program operated out of seven precincts.
1:02:10
So where are we at now in terms of the number of teams currently that are that we have for the CRTs and where are they located if you could give us an update on that.
Michelle Morse
1:02:23
Absolutely.
1:02:23
Thank you for the question about the co response teams.
1:02:26
I'm gonna pass to doctor Wright to share a bit more about the program.
Linda Lee
1:02:29
Okay.
Jean Wright
1:02:29
Thanks.
1:02:30
Thank you, doctor Morris.
1:02:32
So first, Chair, it's important to recognize that there are not teams for the CRT.
1:02:38
This, as you said, is the partnership between DOHMH and NYPD, and so there are two officers for every clinician that go out.
1:02:49
And so there is coverage for all five boroughs.
Leonard Leveille
1:02:52
So Okay.
Jean Wright
1:02:53
Yeah, that's important to note.
1:02:57
And so the goal for CRT is to engage those individuals as you have indicated that are impacted by the criminal justice system, but also at risk for serious mental illness.
1:03:07
The goal is to connect them to treatment and to services, not to take them to jail or for incarceration.
1:03:13
So that is the goal.
1:03:14
And so having that specialized combination of law enforcement and clinician to help make those decisions to support individuals behavioral health is really the key and the goal.
1:03:24
And as you indicated in terms of the ability to do that, there has been a drop off because of lack of resources as you indicated.
1:03:33
So not having as many cars, not having as many clinicians and officers that are available to really do the work that we need to be done is is really a challenge.
Linda Lee
1:03:43
Okay.
1:03:44
And that's I was actually my next question is what is the general cost to sending out one of those CRT groups with the two officers and the mental health professional?
1:03:55
What is the cost for that?
Michelle Morse
1:03:58
I can just reinforce that the budget for FY '26 for CRT is $5,000,000 and then in addition to that, there's the cost just of the salaries of the teams, but I'll pass to our Chief Financial Officer to share any more details.
Edwin Santana
1:04:11
Okay.
Aaron Anderson
1:04:12
Yeah, thanks Doctor.
1:04:13
Morris.
1:04:14
The $5,000,000 just to clarify, that's our cost, so we I can't speak for the NYPD cost, but
Linda Lee
1:04:18
I see.
1:04:19
So it's not all inclusive of the okay.
1:04:21
Got it.
1:04:21
Right.
1:04:23
And then sorry.
1:04:24
I don't know if I I know that you're serving all five boroughs, but how many teams did you say are available?
Jean Wright
1:04:30
These are not teams.
1:04:31
These are just two officers and a clinician, so they're not broken up into separate teams.