Title
Community Assistance Program (CAP) Expansion Implementation Report
Description
This report provides the Phoenix City Council with an update on the Community Assistance Program expansion efforts.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
In June 2021, the City Council approved $15 million in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 City Budget to expand the Community Assistance Program (CAP). CAP is a proven model to assist residents experiencing traumatic events, behavioral health crisis, or other social welfare concerns. CAP is the foundation of our efforts to address the gap between traditional emergencies and public safety services and the needs of the community. To meet the diverse needs of those we serve, the CAP team continues collaborating with community partners and connecting individuals with appropriate resources.
The CAP expansion has made considerable progress to achieve long-term program success and sustainment. The plan is to increase the number of Crisis Response Units (CRUs) to ten and Behavioral Health Units (BHUs) to nine. A multidisciplinary team of City departments have been working to support this vision. To date, there are six CRUs (60 percent to target) and nine BHUs (100 percent to target) in operation. The newest BHUs, BH6, BH7 and BH9 went into operation in June 2025. CRU coverage is 24-hour coverage for five days weekly and 22-hour coverage for 2 days weekly. BHU coverage is 24 hours daily.
CAP is currently at 93 percent filled positions and 7 percent vacancies. In 2025, CAP completed five onboarding classes. Class 25-06 has begun and will conclude in November. CAP anticipates hosting a Class 25-07 onboarding prior to the end of December 2025. CAP anticipates an increase in vacancies following the request to convert part-time specialist positions into full-time roles. Once this conversion is implemented, 20 additional full-time specialist positions will be created.
Hiring for Behavioral Health Dispatchers / Supervisors has concluded, and CAP achieved the goal of 24-hour daily coverage in the Fire Alarm Room on March 31, 2025.
In August 2025, there were 417 calls transferred from Police Communications to CAP Behavioral Health Dispatchers. Between January and August 2025, the number of calls transferred from Police Communications to CAP Behavioral Health Dispatchers increased by 98 percent \compared to the same period in 2024. In August 2025, 52 percent of the calls for the BHUs were generated from a transferred call from Police Communications. The remaining 48 percent of the BHUs’ calls for service were either a co-response with police/fire or the call was generated by a BHU.
In August 2025, there were 809 calls for service for the BHUs. Between January and August 2025, the calls for service for BHUs’ increased by 94 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Of the 809 calls for service, the BHUs made contact with a customer(s) on 457 calls (56 percent). The remaining calls were either cancelled prior to arrival or the units could not locate the customer upon arrival on-scene. Single-unit BH response in August was 73 percent of total calls for service. In August, the average response time for a BHU was 20 minutes.
In August 2025, there were 476 calls for service for the CRUs. Between January and August 2025, the calls for service for CRUs increased by 5 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Of the 476 calls for service, the CRUs contacted a customer(s) on 267 calls (56 percent). The remaining calls were either cancelled prior or upon arrival. Single-unit CR response in August was 10 percent of total calls for service. In August, the average response time for a CRU was 22 minutes.
The CAP will continue to focus on filling remaining vacant positions to bring more units into service, investing in the development and training of staff, and streamlining processes to improve community outreach and services.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays, Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer, and the Fire Department.