The City of Tallahassee has set a strategic priority of building a safe, resilient, and inclusive community through proactive, community-based solutions that enhance public safety.
As identified in the City's Community Resilience Plan, the underlying cause of many public health and safety risks can be traced back to what mental health professionals have termed as adverse childhood/community experiences (ACEs). These traumatic shocks and stresses can lead to mental illnesses and often send ripple effects that impact neighborhoods, schools, the workplace, and eventually the broader community.
Anyone can develop a mental health condition, but the most vulnerable are those living in high poverty, high stress environments with limited access to jobs, food, technology, and quality health care. Untreated mental health conditions can exacerbate individual vulnerabilities, overburden public safety services, and in some cases, lead to tragic outcomes during emergency response.
Crisis Response Unit
The City of Tallahassee, including the Tallahassee Police Department and the Apalachee Center, has partnered to launch an enhanced intervention crisis response team to respond to calls involving mental health emergencies. The first-of-its-kind program in Tallahassee is an innovative partnership involving specially trained and equipped CIT trained police officers and mental health professionals who will respond to 9-1-1 dispatched calls as a single coordinated team to safely and effectively manage individuals experiencing a mental health emergency. With dedicated personnel, vehicles and equipment, the team will provide immediate medical and/or psychological stabilization, as well as assessment and referral for additional services beyond the initial incident.
If this is not an emergency, please call the non-emergency line at 850-606-5800.
Project Launch Press Release
- What is the Crisis Response Unit?
The Tallahassee Emergency Assessment Mobile Unit (TEAM) is a new public safety response unit that responds to non-violent 9-1-1 calls for service with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The TEAM consists of a licensed mental health professional, a TFD Paramedic or EMT and a Crisis Intervention Team trained TPD officer, who are stationed and dispatched together to a public safety incident. The initiative is part of the City's long-term strategic priority to build a safe, resilient and inclusive community through proactive, community-based solutions that enhance public safety.
- What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis may present as an individual that is
- exhibiting acute symptoms of a mental illness or substance use disorder, and/or
- exhibiting deterioration of their mental status that is substantially interfering with their ability to safely care for themselves, and/or
- presenting to endanger themselves or others, presumably due to mental illness or substance use.
- What type of services are provided by the TEAM during a call for service?
Once deployed, law enforcement will ensure both public and community safety on the scene, the paramedic will assess and determine if immediate medical services are needed and the licensed mental health professional will initiate a crisis assessment on site. After the assessment, the TEAM will determine the appropriate level of care for the individual necessary for stabilization in the community or, if appropriate, will arrange for transport to the Central Receiving Facility at The Apalachee Center for further intervention. If the individual is neither a risk to public safety nor in need of acute medical intervention, the TEAM will facilitate the appropriate follow-up services, which includes a safety plan, continuity of care and linkage to community resources.
- Under what circumstances would the TEAM not be dispatched?
In the pilot phase, the TEAM will generally not respond to violent crimes in progress, life-threatening medical emergencies, an active scene with weapons involved or provide voluntary or medical transport for clients.
- What agencies are involved in the TEAM?
The TEAM is a partnership between the City of Tallahassee and the Apalachee Center. City staff from the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), Tallahassee Fire Department (TFD), Consolidated Dispatch Agency (CDA) and Housing & Community Resilience department worked with The Apalachee Center to develop the pilot program. The mental health professionals on the TEAM are hired and trained by The Apalachee Center. The TEAM has access to the in-patient and out-patient services of The Apalachee Center.
- How many response units are currently operational?
In the pilot phase, there is one response unit activated with a rotation of TPD, TFD and Apalachee Center staff. The goal is to grow the pilot into a 24/7, multi-unit operation over time.
- Where is the TEAM unit stationed?
The unit is stationed at Fire Station #1 at 327 North Adams Street.
- When does the TEAM unit operate?
During the initial pilot phase, the TEAM operates Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The goal is to grow the pilot into a 24/7, multi-unit operation over time.
- How can I request a TEAM unit?
- For non-emergencies where TEAM may be able to assist, call 850-606-5800.
- In case of a life-threatening mental health emergency, dial 9-1-1, and a dispatcher will connect you with the most appropriate public safety responder.
- Who do I contact for general information or media inquiries?
Contact the City of Tallahassee Communications office at 850-891-8533 or email contactus@talgov.com.
Individual Assistance
The City is partnering with Leon County, 2-1-1 Big Bend, and the Apalachee Center to rapidly connect mental health service providers to vulnerable individuals. In coordination with the Mental Health Council of the Big Bend, 2-1-1 Big Bend will maintain a comprehensive directory of mental health services providers and resources for referral services. Specially trained Mental Health Navigators at 2-1-1 Big Bend will provide immediate referrals to appropriate resources for callers experiencing mental health crises including scheduling counseling appointments with transportation assistance, dispatching the Apalachee Center's Mobile Response Team to the client, or directly connecting counselors and therapists via telehealth services, as needed.
Residents can access the hotline by dialing 2-1-1 or texting their zip code to 898-211.
Neighborhood Resilience Hubs
Resilience Hubs are envisioned as an enhanced neighborhood service center designed to provide a proactive and coordinated approach to preparing for and rapidly responding to disasters or crises. Existing Service Centers will be augmented with on-site emergency preparedness resources, community crises response/debriefing teams, and on-call partner mental health providers. The enhanced offering, strategically distributed within vulnerable neighborhoods, will help reduce the suffering of neighborhood residents who have experienced a critical public safety incident and will provide them with support and skills to manage the aftermath.
To schedule an appointment, please call 850-523-3333 ext. 3221. Services are offered Monday to Friday from 9:00am - 1:00pm.
Community Partners