Building responsive systems

Across the country, frontline workers in human services, behavioral health, housing, and public safety are grappling with how to respond more effectively to crises — especially when those crises are rooted in complex issues like mental illness, substance use, or homelessness. While nearly 20% of 911 calls involve someone experiencing a mental health crisis, and over 60% involve noncriminal situations, the challenge doesn’t end with dispatch.

Too often, the systems responsible for follow-up — from mobile crisis teams to housing case managers — operate in silos, making it difficult to ensure people receive sustained, coordinated support. And the infrastructure to connect these efforts frequently lags behind the urgency of the moment.

This conversation brings together leaders advancing innovative models that bridge human services, behavioral health, and public safety. We explore how communities are using real-time information and cross-agency workflows to deploy the right response, reduce fragmentation, and support residents with compassion and care — both in the moment of crisis and long after.

Speakers

• Dr. Amy Barden, Chief of Seattle CARE, Seattle, WA
• Drew Grabham, Director of Outreach, Central City Concern, Portland, OR
• Captain James Nakayama, Concord Police Department, Concord, CA
• Tim Shriver, Head of State and Local Government, Peregrine