Officers and Social Workers: Police Reforms & Enhancements to Police Response

Sometimes, the best police response isn’t police. 31 years ago, the City of Eugene, Oregon, developed an innovative community-based public safety system to provide mental health first response for crises involving mental illness, homelessness, and addiction. CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) is a mobile crisis intervention program staffed by White Bird Clinic personnel using City of Eugene vehicles and funded through the Eugene Police Department. CAHOOTS provides support for EPD personnel as both primary or joint responders – taking on calls for service related to crisis counseling, welfare checks, substance abuse, suicide threats, and more. Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner discusses details of the program’s success, operation, funding, and calls for service data.