7 Months In: Elm City COMPASS Crisis Response Team Handle 500+ Calls

NEW HAVEN, CT —The second phase of New Haven's Elm City COMPASS crisis response initiative is underway, officials announced this week.

COMPASS stands for Compassionate Allies Serving Our Streets. The program is designed to complement and support the work of police, fire, and emergency medical personnel by responding to 911 calls and engaging in direct outreach. The focus is on assisting New Haven residents experiencing mental health, substance use and housing crises and connecting them to appropriate services.

The Elm City COMPASS crisis response team is not armed and includes a social worker and a peer Recovery Support Specialist who provide crisis intervention and counseling, harm reduction supports, information and referral, transportation and help with social services.

In the initial pilot phase, between November 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, one team was deployed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., seven days a week. Beginning this month, with the launch of phase two, two teams will be deployed spanning two shifts between the expanded hours of 8 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week.

Read the June 2023 report on services provided to date here.

In addition, a case manager has been added to the team to work with individuals in need of more intensive support following their initial engagement with the team.

Other focuses of phase two: testing and formalization of the direct dispatch of the Elm City COMPASS team by the City’s 911 emergency call center without the police and fire departments, as well as the further strengthening of community partnerships.

Watch the full news briefing here:

Phase three of the initiative is scheduled to begin July 1, 2024.