The Alternative Response Team project has been a significant success for Hennepin County social workers and North Memorial Health paramedics, who have partnered to respond to mental health calls in the community instead of police officers. Inspector Elliot Faust expressed his satisfaction with the results of the program, stating that getting it up and running was a challenging effort. He highlighted the positive outcomes seen so far, which include a decrease in mental health calls received by the police department for the first time in years.
The program’s extension through the end of 2026 was met with enthusiasm by Faust, who acknowledged that it is too early to establish a direct causal link between the work of the Alternative Response Team and the decline in calls. However, there is definitely a correlation between these two factors. Moving forward, Faust hopes to expand the unit’s operating hours beyond regular business hours to accommodate high demand for their services. The team’s busy schedule requires them to continue pushing forward with this initiative.
