Santa Cruz Local

Responses to mental health crises are set to change in Santa Cruz County with a new 988 system as an alternative to 911. Non-police responses are expected to be dispatched through the system, and advocates say the 24-hour, non-police system is overdue. Santa Cruz Local’s Stephen Baxter talks to Assemblymember Mark Stone, advocate Jeffrey Arlt and others about the mental health crisis response in the county now and its shortcomings. Some potential solutions may come from Santa Cruz County’s Mobile Emergency Response Team at 1-800-952-2335 and Alameda County’s Community Assessment and Transport Team. Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/06/11/podcast-reshaping-mental-health-crisis-response-in-santa-cruz-county/ Santa Cruz Local’s mental health crisis resources page: https://santacruzlocal.org/resources/cri