Staking claim to part of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Tampa is home to nearly 900,000 residents.
Modeled after the embedded 911 communication center in Austin, TX, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) aims to integrate mental health clinicians in the 911 call center to create a Crisis Intervention Dispatch Service (CIDS) which delivers a 911 Dispatch Diversion program to improve outcomes for individuals in crisis. Cohort 2022.
The CIDS program aims to increase the capacity of the TPD to implement community policing strategies that strengthen community partnerships and create a safer community. These strategies identify and reduce the risk of harm to individuals with mental illness and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues who encounter law enforcement, improve public safety at initial contact, and refer individuals to wrap-around services and assistance.
Program Goals
With the support of grant funding, TPD intends to demonstrate an overall:
- Decrease in number of per capita mental health-related calls for service
- Decrease in the number of repeat crises-related calls for service from individuals
- Decrease in the use of force for those who are experiencing a mental health crisis
- Increase in referral and connection to services for those who have experienced mental health crisis
- Increase in the number of individuals with successful behavioral health intervention reflected by decreased frequency of contact with law enforcement
Key Partnership Organizations
Crisis Center of Tampa Bay