Policy & Research · Texas behavioral health news
Baltimore Is Rethinking What It Means To Call 911 — And Who Responds
KFF Health News – Mental Health · By Scott Maucione, WYPR · August 5, 2026
In plain language
Baltimore is changing how it handles 911 calls by sending mental health clinicians instead of police officers to certain situations. Instead of risking arrest, people in distress can now meet with crisis teams that offer support for mental health, addiction, and housing needs. These mobile units provide immediate help and connect people to long-term services like therapy and medical care. This approach aims to help residents solve problems before they become emergency crises while keeping them out of the legal system.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Mobile crisis teams send clinicians and peer counselors to help people instead of using traditional police responses.
- Baltimore is using $400 million from opioid settlements to fund 24/7 non-police response services.
- Sending specialists rather than police can reduce arrests, particularly for Black men and adults under 40.
- Crisis teams connect residents to essential resources like housing, legal aid, and long-term psychiatric care.
- In similar programs, police backup was only needed for a tiny fraction of diverted emergency calls.
The city wants to stop health crises before they happen and is creating a new service to do that when people call 911.
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