In an effort to take a health-based approach to violence prevention, Long Beach announced the expansion of its Community Crisis Response (CCR) team.
The team was formed in 2023 to respond to non-emergency, non-violent and non-medical calls where services are deemed appropriate to help residents, focusing mainly on West Long Beach and Downtown. In the past two years, this five-person team has responded to nearly 900 calls to provide help and connections to local services.
“The expansion of Community Crisis Response reflects the program’s proven impact and effectiveness,” said Health and Human Services Director Alison King in a public statement. “We’re proud to offer community members a compassionate response to crises and are committed to expanding our reach to meet the City’s needs.”
However, the City is not adding more workers to the expansion of the health-based violence prevention team. Instead, the five-person team that has previously focused on specific areas in Long Beach will now respond to calls for the entire city. The City has no plans to add additional response teams, according to a spokesperson from the Health Department.
Long Beach’s CCR team was formed through a mixture of state grants and local funds, using $516,447 in Measure A funds and $400,000 from the City’s general fund. Most of the program is funded through a two-year $1 million grant from the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program.
The CCR team costs about $2 million annually to keep running, according to a spokesperson with the Health Department. The grant funding expires in 2026, and the City currently has no confirmed grants to keep the team going.
What Does the Community Crisis Response Team Do?
Community Crisis Response individuals respond to calls-for-service where mental health navigation and resources are deemed the appropriate response rather than police officers. These teams respond to non-medical, non-violent calls and focus on community and mental health support.
The CCR team consists of a Crisis Intervention Specialist, a Public Health Nurse, a Peer Navigator, a Program Manager and a Team Supervisor. The Crisis Intervention Specialist and Public Health Nurse roles are filled by licensed professionals, according to a spokesperson with the Long Beach Health Department. Other roles are informed by lived experiences, relevant certifications and previous public health experience.
These calls include mental health crises, suicidal callers, public intoxication, unwelcome people, welfare checks and disturbances. The team does not respond to calls when a person is exhibiting violent behavior, is in possession of a weapon, is experiencing a medical emergency, is threatening or at imminent risk of hurting themselves or others, or if it has been identified that they may have committed a crime.
Residents can request CCR workers Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling the non-emergency line at 562-435-6711. The City’s Emergency Communications Center will then decide whether to dispatch the CCR team or police.
When responding to a call, the team introduces themselves to the individual, explains their purpose and tells the person their rights to decline or accept services, as well as the limits of confidentiality. If needed, the Crisis Intervention Specialist leads de-escalation and provides emotional support while the Public Health Nurse and Peer Navigator assist with medical needs and peer support.
Workers assess the person’s mental, physical and social needs at the moment and develop a plan. Solutions typically consist of on-scene support, connections to services, referrals to services and/or transportation to additional services. Team members also provide food, water and clothing when needed.
Results of the Community Crisis Response Team, So Far
Since July 2023, the Community Crisis Response team has responded to more than 863 calls, with 59% of those calls being “resolved on-scene,” according to the City of Long Beach.
Nearly half the calls responded to by CCR team was for a well-being check, while 15% is for intoxication, 7% are deemed mental health related and 37% are listed under “other reasons.” According to the City’s online data dashboard, 59% of community crisis calls lead to direct resources and supplies such as food, water, harm reduction and clothing, while 25% of calls result in referrals and 11% result in transporting the person elsewhere.
The CCR team has helped Black residents the most, who make up 47% of calls, according to online data. White residents account for 32% of CCR calls, Latinos account for 16% of calls and all other races account for 4% of CCR calls. Fifty-eight percent of CCR calls are for men, while 41% are for women and 1% is listed under “other.”
Residents between the ages of 35 and 44 make up most of the CCR needs at 23%, with 45-54-year-olds and those 65 and older close behind at 20%.
Only 6% of all calls required additional help from the Long Beach Police Department, Fire Department or emergency medical services.
Most community crisis calls came from downtown in the zip code area of 90802, with 288 calls made in the last two years. Another 245 calls were made to the zip code area of 90813, which includes part of downtown as well.
Residents can view the Community Crisis Response online data dashboard here to see program metrics.
