Title
Community Assistance Program Hiring, Recruitment and Service Report
Description
This item includes a report on Phoenix Fire Department's Community Assistance Program (CAP) hiring and recruitment efforts. The report also details information on CAP's responses to calls for service.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
In June 2021, the City Council approved $15 million in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget to expand the Community Assistance Program (CAP). CAP is a proven model to assist residents experiencing a traumatic event, behavioral health crisis, or other social welfare concerns. CAP consists of Crisis Response Units (CRUs), Behavioral Health Units (BHUs), and Behavioral Health dispatchers. CRUs continue to co-respond with police and fire on traumatic incidents to provide on-scene crisis stabilization. BHUs may respond as a singular unit to assist individuals experiencing a behavioral health or substance use concern or as a co-response unit. CAP is the foundation of our efforts to address those community needs that don’t expressly align with the mission of traditional emergency and public safety services. To meet these diverse needs, CAP staff continue collaborating with community partners and connecting individuals with appropriate resources.
The CAP expansion has made considerable progress over the 2023 year to achieve long-term program success and sustainment. The expansion of CAP included the creation of 130 new FTE positions. Of these approved positions, CAP filled 74 positions. Currently, CAP is operating four BHUs and six CRUs. CAP is continuing to recruit for Caseworkers and has an open recruitment for Caseworker IIs. In January 2024, CAP is recruiting for a Casework Service Coordinator and Management Assistant II.
As CAP increases staffing and units for service, location expansion planning continues. Currently, CAP has eight locations across the City of Phoenix. On Jan. 10, 2024, a BHU team began working at the GCU building at 2657 W. Camelback Road.
The CAP Data Report is included for review as Attachment A and includes additional updates on recent dispatch data trends, recruitment, and fleet updates.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays, Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the Fire Department.