The CSUF Police Department and Counseling and Psychological Services were awarded a $549,000 grant from the Department of Justice to assist Titans experiencing a mental health crisis.
As the need for mental health and substance abuse assistance continues to grow, the departments recognize the importance of creating a specialized Mobile Crisis Team that responds to mental health calls while fostering trust and safety at Cal State Fullerton and within the surrounding community.
The team, consisting of a licensed CAPS mental health professional and an unarmed campus safety specialist, responds in tandem when dispatched and is trained to handle various mental health situations. Their ultimate goal is to assess the immediate needs of the individuals involved, de-escalate if necessary and ensure the community member is provided with the appropriate resources to support student success.
“The additional funding will help break down barriers and stigmas surrounding mental health services and assist students when seeking mental health support. The MCT is another intervention our students can utilize in a crisis,” said Jamie Sheehan, director of CAPS.
The CSUF Police Department responded to over 150 incidents involving people experiencing a mental health crisis in 2023, highlighting this new team’s importance.
“This grant reinforces the importance of the collaboration between the CSUF Police Department and CAPS. It highlights our ability to send the most appropriate responder depending on the call for service related to mental health,” said Adam Kashe, grant writer and CSUF Police Department detective.
The creation of the MCT provides a holistic and tiered alternative to a strictly law enforcement response to Titans in a crisis. The team is one tier in the CSUF Police Department’s new holistic safety response system. The additional funding will further support ongoing mental health and cultural bias training for police officers and dispatchers, outreach to the university community, and ensuring the team is equipped with up-to-date technology and information.
Expected project outcomes of the MCT include decreased reliance on law enforcement response to non-violent behavioral health crisis incidents; reduced costs; decrease in arrests and use of force by law enforcement; decrease in repeat calls for service for the same individual; and increased speed and access to care for individuals in crisis through the seamless connection of university resources.
Visit the CSUF Police Department website to explore the holistic safety vision to support a safe, inclusive and welcoming university for Titans to thrive.