Seattle’s approach to public safety is undergoing a significant makeover with the expansion of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) department. Announced by Mayor Bruce Harrell, the plan includes hiring additional responders and extending their service to seven days a week citywide, according to a recent announcement from the Mayor's office.
Since its inception, the CARE responder team has attended to hundreds of emergencies, demonstrating their capability to aid community members effectively while freeing up police for more urgent situations. Despite the success of the dual dispatch pilot launched last fall, the team plans to scale their efforts, encompassing areas like Capitol Hill and Madison Park, as Mayor Harrell pointed out in the recent release. The team's goal is to provide solutions tailored to individual needs in every city neighborhood, under a new paradigm that Mayor Harrell is fostering in public safety.
The proposed expansion would see an addition of 21 new positions to the CARE department, namely 18 responders and three supervisors, as stated in Mayor Harrell’s upcoming Mid-Year Supplemental Budget request. These additions are financially backed by $1.9 million in federal funding – a feat made possible through the support of Congressman Adam Smith and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the Mayor's office detailed.
Moreover, Mayor Harrell has put forth Amy Smith to move from acting to the permanent Chief of the CARE department, a decision still awaiting City Council approval. In tandem with CARE’s development, Seattle University and the University of Washington have joined hands to offer an evaluation and master’s level practicum placements respectively, strengthening the framework upon which CARE’s response teams operate. As a part of the expansion strategy, the department also intends on piloting direct referrals to the Crisis Solutions Center, which will potentially offer more avenues for individuals in crisis to receive the help they need, according to the announcement from the Mayor's office.
CARE’s average response time is currently less than ten minutes, with teams spending an average of 39 minutes on scene, the Mayor's office reports. This quick and efficient response has greatly benefited the city, as revealed by the recent CARE team figures showing over 500 dispatch calls managed safely since last fall. With the expansion and the team's targeted response, Councilmember Bob Kettle has commended the program for being essential to public safety and public health, still as described in the Mayor's office statement. As CARE continues to respond and adapt to the needs of Seattle’s diverse populace, their trajectory sets a national precedent for a more evolved practice of public safety.
