Resolution 210459

..Title Authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding mobile crisis units. ..Body WHEREAS, On October 9, 2020, the City announced its 911 Triage and Co-Responder Program, which is currently designed to connect residents experiencing behavioral health crises to law enforcement and clinicians working together in response to calls for service; and WHEREAS, On April 15, 2021, Mayor Kenney's budget address included a proposal of $6 million to expand the pilot program, as well as $7.2 million to expand behavioral health mobile crisis units and establish a hotline for emergency mental health services; and WHEREAS, Advocates across the country have called for the use of mobile crisis units, which would reduce police interactions with people in crisis. It is estimated that one-quarter to one-half of all people killed by police were experiencing a mental health crisis. According to Stat News, mental health professionals state that mobile crisis units offer a safer, more compassionate way to help those in crisis while preventing needlessly violent and traumatic encounters in the process; and WHEREAS, There are many variations of mobile crisis units, including a community-based response, a co-response between police and mental health professionals, and a system where police can respond after the mental health professional; and WHEREAS, According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, some residents believe the City's co-responder pilot program will "connect residents to services, divert people from the criminal justice system, and de-escalate potentially volatile situations" while other residents believe the program "doesn't go far enough and advocate[s] removing police entirely, sending social workers and clinicians instead;" and WHEREAS, It is imperative that the public have a space to provide their feedback and input on mobile crisis units in Philadelphia directly to public officials; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby authorize the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding mobile crisis units. ..End