At the December 3 Regular Assembly Meeting, the Assembly unanimously voted (12-0) to approve AO 2024-113 to make the Anchorage Fire Department's Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) permanent by establishing it in the Anchorage Municipal Code.
“Building on years of success, the Mobile Crisis Team is here to stay," said Assembly Vice Chair Meg Zaletel, a co-sponsor of the ordinance. “For three years, the Fire Department, Assembly and community members have collaborated to stand up this program and the data speaks for itself; the MCT is an essential emergency service making a difference in Anchorage."
The Mobile Crisis Team provides a non-law enforcement response to behavioral health crises through a team of a Mental Health Clinician and an EMT/Paramedic responding to 911 or 311 calls. It started out on a limited schedule and now operates as a 24-hour service. At a recent Assembly Public Safety Committee meeting, AFD presented the MCT's highlights from 2023, which include:
- 90% of their responses led to the person staying in the community (versus transport by AFD or APD to hospital or jail).
- 77% of their responses were to serve people who are housed and 23% were unhoused.
- In post-response customer service surveys, 100% were satisfied with MCT service.
“The more people that we're able to treat in the field and avoid having to take to the hospital emergency department, the better that is for the entire community," said Anchorage Fire Chief Douglas Schrage.
“The MCT is an Alcohol Tax success story," said Assembly Member Daniel Volland. “What began as a pilot program funded with alcohol tax money is now secured in our operating budget and established in code for years to come."
Assembly Member Kameron Perez-Verdia, chair of the Assembly's Public Health and Safety Committee added, “The MCT is an essential part of our community's behavioral health care strategy and Anchorage is safer, healthier and stronger as a result. I'm proud that we've expanded the service to 24 hours a day and made it a permanent piece of our public safety services."
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Contact:
Meg Zaletel | District 4, meg.zaletel@anchorageak.gov
Daniel Volland | District 1, daniel.volland@anchorageak.gov
Kameron Perez-Verdia | District 3, kameron.perez-verdia@anchorageak.gov