As the sun set on National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week, Round Rock's unique contribution to emergency mental health care stood sharply illuminated. The city's Crisis Response Unit (CRU), a specialized branch within the Round Rock Fire Department, is showcasing its strides in providing targeted support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. Formed just three years ago in 2022, the unit is staffed with behavioral health clinicians, case managers, and specially trained paramedics. According to an official news release from the City of Round Rock, the CRU has been instrumental in ensuring both proper care for those in need and effective resource allocation within emergency services.
Speaking to the importance of tailored responses to crises, CRU Program Manager Annie Burwell emphasized, "Our Crisis Response Unit delivers a dedicated, highly trained response for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises." The City of Round Rock stated this in its official news release, quoting Burwell as she explained that this approach allows primary emergency services to remain focused on other incidents. She further noted, "We believe crisis response should send the best professional for the situation at hand. This model ensures the best possible outcomes for community members in crisis and represents a responsible use of taxpayer dollars," according to Round Rock’s official announcement.
Over the last year, the unit has been active, responding to 1,715 crisis calls, which averages to assisting around 80 individuals each month. During many of these incidents, the trained CRU team managed to stabilize patients in the field, preventing over a hundred needless trips to emergency rooms, per the City of Round Rock’s official news release. Their interventions span the age spectrum, providing necessary care for children, senior citizens, and, notably, for specific groups such as military veterans and the homeless.
Additionally, the CRU has been a proactive force in addressing opioid overdoses, distributing 192 naloxone kits, a medication endorsed by the FDA for reversing the effects of an overdose. Following such incidents, the CRU makes sure to provide essential follow-up care, setting up a safety net that includes coordinating longer-term services like appointments, housing, and benefit access.
But the scope of the CRU's work ripples out further, impacting not just those in immediate distress but also empowering the wider community through education. The team delivers training sessions about handling behavioral health emergencies to city employees and collaborates with neighboring partners to enhance overall crisis preparedness. Their expertise has even taken them to the national stage, where they shared insights at a co-responder conference in Atlanta recently—a contribution of knowledge which, as highlighted in Round Rock’s official release, strengthens the safety net for mental health crises nationwide.
