Dartmouth’s CARE Team Expands to 24-Hour Crisis Support Service

A new model for crisis intervention is set to expand its services in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The Crisis Assistance and Response Team, known as CARE, will transition to a 24-hour support system starting on January 19, 2024. Launched in October 2023, the initiative aims to provide an alternative to police intervention for individuals in distress.

The program, overseen by the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), is staffed by personnel from the Souls Harbour Rescue Mission. This team offers in-person support tailored to meet the needs of individuals facing crises that are not violent or clinical in nature. According to Matthew Reid, director of mobile ministries at Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, “Not every crisis, not every situation is a police matter.” The CARE team operates in plain clothes to foster a more approachable environment.

The service targets communities within Dartmouth, specifically those located inside the circumferential highway, Highway 111, as well as Woodlawn and Cole Harbour. Calls for assistance come through 211 Nova Scotia, where the CARE team responds with a consent-based, trauma-informed approach. This method allows them to connect individuals with a variety of essential services, addressing needs related to mental health, substance use, food security, and housing.

“It’s about meeting people in a safe place and having community supports for people,” Reid explained. “We can give them supports that are needed and resources that are out there and hopefully make their day better.”

Expanding Services to Address Community Needs

Currently, the CARE program employs a team of 17 trained staff members who have completed over six weeks of training. When responding to calls, they work in pairs to ensure effective support. Reid emphasized the importance of diversion in crisis scenarios, stating, “Whatever it takes to divert the crisis to make sure that the person is supported before we leave is top priority.”

The initiative is part of HRM’s broader public safety strategy proposed in 2023. This strategy acknowledges the need for alternative response models for situations that do not require police intervention, particularly in mental health crises. Bamidele Bello, the alternative response manager for HRM’s community safety business unit, noted that emergency services have reported being stretched thin. “Before now we had the police, emergency services responding to all crises, including mental health crises. But we will understand that most times they are not best suited to address these services,” Bello stated.

This new approach not only fulfills a community demand for specialized support but also alleviates some pressure on police resources. Bello added, “If we want to ensure that crises are diverted from the police… then the right thing to do is also to have this service 24/7 to ensure that irrespective of the time that a crisis occurs, everyone has access.”

Monitoring and Evaluating Impact

The CARE service will undergo continuous monitoring and evaluation to assess its effectiveness and inform future steps. This commitment to evaluation aims to ensure that the program meets the evolving needs of the community and remains responsive to the challenges faced by individuals in distress.

As Dartmouth prepares for the full implementation of the CARE team’s 24-hour service, it stands as a pioneering example of community-based crisis intervention, focused on providing compassionate support to those in need. As the program develops, it may serve as a model for other municipalities seeking to enhance their crisis response strategies.