CARES is a special program by CMPD. It stands for Citizen Assistance: Response, Engage, Support. In practice, the program allows CMPD to use a team made up of master level social workers to handle non-violent calls. (these are NOT police officers) This training makes them far more effective when dealing with people struggling with mental illness, substance abuse issues and homelessness. As a provider, it’s important to know about these teams and that you can specifically request a CARES team when calling 911. CARES is available from 7a ~ 3pm Monday to Friday. Their service area includes the Central and Metro police districts. Generally, that’s Uptown, the West side and I-77 corridor from Uptown to I-85.
It turns out that CMPD has different levels of call severity. If there’s an individual displaying threatening behavior, weapons are present, or a crime is being committed and you still think there’s a mental health or social work aspect to the situation, request a CPCRT team from 911. CMPD’s highest level of social work policing is CPCRT. It stands for Community Policing Crisis Response Team. The CPCRT Team includes Master’s-level mental health clinicians who accompany Crisis Intervention Team officers to incidents involving a behavioral health and/or substance-abuse crisis. So if there is imminent danger to themselves or others, request a CPCRT team.
Because they deal with many different types of homeless people, CARES has created a great one-page tri-fold handout which you can download and print. Just click below to download it.
• C.A.R.E.S. Tri-fold Homeless Brochure
• C.A.R.E.S One Page Flyer
• Map of CMPD Divisions