Nationally, a growing number of jurisdictions are launching alternative 911 emergency response initiatives. The goals of these programs are to help more individuals in crisis get the right kind of help at the right time, reduce overreliance on law enforcement, and free up the capacity of traditional first responders to focus on pressing public safety concerns and medical emergencies.
The Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab has worked with more than 30 jurisdictions to develop, improve, and expand these programs through its Alternative 911 Emergency Response Implementation Cohort. Through this applied research support and technical assistance, the GPL helps jurisdictions navigate a range of questions related to implementing alternative 911 emergency response services. Common questions include:
1. How do I determine which calls are safe to respond to?
2. Who are the most important stakeholders to coordinate with during planning and implementation?
3. How do I measure success?
"Launching Alternative 911 Emergency Response in the San Gabriel Valley" shares three early lessons from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments' implementation of SGV CARE, a multi-jurisdiction alternative 911 emergency response program, that answer these questions.