Fayetteville, Arkansas is the county seat of Washington County and is the most populous city in Northwest Arkansas with a population of 576,403.
The City of Fayetteville aims to bolster community safety through the implementation of a Mobile Crisis Response unit by directly addressing individuals in crisis, thereby diverting them from the criminal justice system towards community-based supportive resources that target social determinants of health. This initiative prioritizes forging partnerships with mental health care and crisis response organizations, thereby reducing the strain on police officers’ time and resources. Additionally, it emphasizes data collection, diversion from criminal justice involvement for those experiencing crisis, alleviating fear and stigma associated with opioid overdose, and enhancing communication and capabilities in rural communities through grassroots initiatives, training, and collaboration. The program plans to deploy social services advocates and specialized crisis intervention officers as the primary responders to community members in crisis, providing immediate support and facilitating peaceful resolutions with positive outcomes for those in need. Cohort 2023.
Program Goals
- Implement Mobile Crisis Response units to directly address individuals in crisis
- Divert individuals in crisis away from the criminal justice system towards community-based supportive resources focusing on social determinants of health
- Forge partnerships with mental care and crisis response organizations thereby reducing the strain on police officer time and resources
- Collect data to better understand and address the needs of individuals in crisis and inform future interventions
- Divert individuals experiencing crisis away from involvement with the criminal justice system
- Alleviate fear and stigma surrounding opioid overdoes through targeted interventions and support services
- Increase communication and capabilities in rural communities through grassroot initiatives, training and collaboration
- Deploy Social Services Advocates and specialized crisis intervention officers as primary responders to provide immediate support and facilitate peaceful resolutions for individuals in crisis
Key Partnership Organizations
University of Arkansas School of Social Work | Fayetteville Police Department | City of Fayetteville
Learn More
Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) | Fayetteville, AR – Official Website (fayetteville-ar.gov)