INTERNATIONAL CRISIS RESPONSE ASSOCIATION

The International Crisis Response Association is a network dedicated to supporting cities across Canada and the United States in developing crisis response teams led by mental health experts, including licensed clinicians and peer support workers. These teams are called community responder models... A community responder team is a team that sends professional civilian staff to respond to non-violent crisis calls. These crisis calls may be related to mental health, substance use, houselessness, or other social challenges people may be facing. The staff employed by these teams may be peer support workers, licensed clinical social workers, paramedics, nurses, or other staff with expertise in supporting people in crisis. Most community responder teams are accessible via 911. Some community responder teams are operated in partnership with community agencies, while others are housed in a city department or run out of the fire or EMS department.