Antioch moved ahead with plans to establish an alternate response to nonviolent, non-life-threatening 911 calls with the selection on Tuesday of a provider to do just that.
The City Council unanimously selected the Felton Institute of Alameda, one of two organizations to apply, to launch the city’s first 24/7 non-police crisis response team. Councilmembers also unanimously agreed to name it the Angelo Quinto Crisis Response Team after a young man who died several days after an encounter with Antioch police after his family called for help during a mental health crisis.
First proposed by Councilwoman Monica E. Wilson in 2020, the Antioch mobile crisis response team pilot program will be the first of its kind in Contra Costa County and one of only few in the Bay Area. Though the final fee has yet to be negotiated, the program, estimated at between $1.8 and $2.2 million a year, will be paid from $3.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act monies allocated for the purpose last April.
“Over the past two years, a lot of cities across the United States have established mental health crisis response teams for a better, more effective response to people in mental health crises, but also people that are unhoused or people that are having some type of crisis,” Wilson said.
As proposed, the trained Felton crisis team would be available to respond 24-7 to low-level, mental health crisis calls that Antioch police normally would answer.
“This program can provide a better, more effective response, allowing the police to focus on investigating crimes, responding to violent crime and other emergencies and divert calls from fire, EMS or emergency rooms,” Wilson said.
Residents attending the meeting agreed, including several members of Quinto’s family who spoke.
“We are grateful that you all have taken action to establish this necessary community resource as we come closer to seeing it fully in action,” Quinto’s mother, Cassandra Quinto-Collins said. “…We thank you for taking positive action to create a safer community for us.”
“This is a very important step in making needed changes to adjust emergency response services, promoting de-escalation of conflict, respect and human dignity,” Quinto’s stepfather, Robert Collins said. “It is a program that I believe will help everyone in Antioch, from Antioch’s unhoused individuals, police officers, and the community as a whole. It’s very clear to me that we need in Antioch – a lot of de-escalation and conflict resolution, so thank you for taking this incredible step forward.”
Founded 133 years ago, the Felton Institute serves 60,000 people annually in seven counties. The organization will return to the council with a more detailed plan at a future meeting.
Check back for updates.
Source: www.mercurynews.com