Community Crisis Response Program

About the Community Crisis Response Program

The proposed Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP) intends to provide a community response that is non-law enforcement to address non-violent/non-felony mental health crises in Richmond. CCRP was modeled in part on Crisis Assistance Helping Out on The Streets (CAHOOTS), developed in Eugene, Oregon, and tailored to meet the needs of Richmond residents through a nine-month feasibility process that engaged community and government partners with relevant expertise. The city’s goal of supporting community safety and addressing community trauma through community-based alternatives aligns with the proposed model of crisis response for mental health.

Survey Now Open: Richmond Residents' Experiences with Crisis Response

Richmond residents and officials are developing a program to respond to some low-level calls to 911 and the non-emergency number with well-trained community members. Urban Strategies Council (USC), a not-for-profit research and social justice organization, is learning from Richmond residents’ experiences with the emergency response system, community crises, and community needs.

Your survey answers will help design Richmond’s Community Crisis Response Program, a new community-based response system with a focus on harm reduction strategies that better serve residents in need and enable traditional emergency responders to focus on violent crimes and serious crises.

About Urban Strategies

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Founded in 1987, Urban Strategies Council is a regional catalyst for social justice focusing on: data and research, leadership development and training, collaboration, building policy innovation, and advocacy.

Urban Strategies Council is not a single-issue organization. We think and work holistically across silos, sectors, and jurisdictions. We partner with public agencies, grassroots organizing groups, and philanthropic organizations to catalyze lasting social change. In order to move the needle on persistent poverty, we need to change the systems that are currently ineffective. We focus on reforming the systems that serve low-income communities.

Timeline of Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP)

June 30, 2020	Reimagining Public Safety Task Force (RPSTF) created in June 2020 by the Richmond City Council to prepare a plan to transition from Richmond's current "community policing" model to a plan conducive to the reduced police force and return to Council with the preferred policing model
November 12, 2020	Reimagining Public Safety Community Group presents to the Task Force and proposes creating a crisis program for community behavioral health crisis and community conflict.
December 2020	Reimagining Public Safety Task Force December Meetings: Task Force creates four subcommittees to work on proposal recommendations for consideration by the Richmond City Council: Smart Budget and Resource Allocation; Accountability as Safety; Health and Safety; and Community-Based Solutions.
January 21, 2021	Task Force hosts a Community Round Table meeting focused on Mental/Behavioral Health
February/March 2021	Smart Budget & Resource Allocations and the Health & Safety subcommittees prepare community crisis response program proposal. Health & Safety provides main recommendation and Smart Budget & Resource Allocations provides budget proposal.
April 14, 2021	Health & Safety subcommittee provides an overview on a final recommendation and budget proposal to pilot CCRP. The RPSTF approves a motion the recommendation for the CCRP to be pushed to the Richmond City Council.
April 21, 2021	Smart Budget and Resource Allocations subcommittee proposes recommendation that reallocates $2,445,600 of the RPD budget to pilot the Community Crisis Response Program: action is approved by the Task Force.
June 9, 2021	Task Force proposals are updated based on feedback from City staff, City Manager Snideman and Police Chief French. $1M placeholder for development of CCRP was recommended in lieu of the original $2.45M.
June 15, 2021	Richmond City Council Meeting directs staff to incorporate proposals, including CCRP
July 2021	$1 million FY 21-22 budget allocation for CCRP
August 25, 2021	Task Force August Meeting: Task Force approves recommendation for Council to consider additional 3-year extension of Task Force.
December 15, 2021	Task Force hosts 2nd Community Conversations Roundtable on CCRP and other approved proposals by Council
April 7, 2022	CCRP Roundtable Discussion - Cohosted by Council members McLaughlin and Jimenez
April 15, 2022	Release of RFP to aid in CCRP feasibility study and implementation
May 20, 2022	Close of RFP
May 25, 2022	Task Force May Meeting: Updates on CCRP implementation presented by Deputy City Manager LaShonda White
May 26, 2022	CCRP Roundtable Discussion – Cohosted by Councilmembers McLaughlin and Jimenez
July 26, 2022	Richmond City Council Meeting - Approval of Urban Strategies Council (USC) contract from RFP bid
January 24, 2023 or February 7, 2023	City Council will receive status update from USC
Late April/May 2023	Draft report from USC to City Council regarding CCRP implementation

Phase i
phase ii
phase iii
PHASE IV

Community Needs Assessment (Ongoing - May 2023)

Deliverables	Tasks
Complete Stakeholder Interviews	Continue interviewing key staff, new elected Council members and elected offices, and other external entities
Complete Ride-Alongs	Conduct with Richmond Police, Unhoused Program Coordinators, Dispatchers, A3, etc.
Complete Focus Group Listening Sessions	Develop groups; conduct listening sessions
Host Community and City-wide Meetings	Scheduled TBD
Complete Data Analysis	Completed a literature and data review including HIAP, Richmond Fund for Children and Youth Community Needs Assessment and Strategic Investment Plan, and documents from the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force
Community Survey	Develop and conduct a survey; provide analysis
END DELIVERABLE: USC Report on CCRP Implementation	Report to be reviewed internally by staff Report brought to City Council for approval

Deliverables	Tasks
Establish Community Advisory Board	Coordinate board logistics, recruitment, etc.
END DELIVERABLE: Vendor Selection	Depending on the selected program option (e.g. city, CBO, or county) - Vendor Selection approved by City Council

Deliverables	Tasks
Integration with Existing Services and Resources
Funding	Seek opportunities and considerations
Establish Facilities and Equipment
Development of Program Logistics and Job Classifications
Recruitment	Recruit program staff, trainers, dispatchers, etc.
Training	For Responders
Community Awareness Campaign	Conduct

Community Crisis Response Program

About the Community Crisis Response Program