Santa Cruz Local

We're a news organization in Santa Cruz, CA. We watch our public institutions and hold power to account.

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Responses to mental health crises are set to change in Santa Cruz County with a new 988 system as an alternative to 911. Non-police responses are expected to be dispatched through the system, and advocates say the 24-hour, non-police system is overdue. Santa Cruz Local’s Stephen Baxter talks to Assemblymember Mark Stone, advocate Jeffrey Arlt and others about the mental health crisis response in the county now and its shortcomings. Some potential solutions may come from Santa Cruz County’s Mobile Emergency Response Team at 1-800-952-2335 and Alameda County’s Community Assessment and Transport Team. Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/06/11/podcast-reshaping-mental-health-crisis-response-in-santa-cruz-county/ Santa Cruz Local’s mental health crisis resources page: https://santacruzlocal.org/resources/crisis/ Call MERT: 1-800-952-2335 Read more in Santa Cruz Local’s Police Reform Series: Podcast Ep. 81: Reducing harm in Santa Cruz County Law Enforcement : https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/07/15/podcast-ep-81-reducing-harm-in-santa-cruz-county-law-enforcement/ How Alameda County addresses mental health crisis response (May 20, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/05/20/how-alameda-county-addresses-mental-health-crisis-response/ New committees address police reform in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County (Feb. 19, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/02/19/new-committees-address-police-reform-in-watsonville-santa-cruz-county/ Data special: Trends in Watsonville crime, police work, funding (April 1, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/04/01/data-special-trends-in-watsonville-crime-police-work-funding/ Police Reform Series: State bill sets stage for new mental health crisis hotline (May 13, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/05/13/state-bill-sets-stage-for-new-mental-health-crisis-hotline/