Des Moines embeds mental health clinicians in 911 dispatch center to aid callers
During Suicide Prevention Month, Des Moines police are highlighting a proactive model that embeds licensed mental health clinicians inside the 911 dispatch center — a rare approach used by only a handful of departments nationwide, according to the Des Moines Police Department.
Part of the CARE Team, launched about three years ago, to meet a rising volume of mental health emergencies.
When callers indicate they need mental health services, they are routed to a clinician in the dispatch center who begins the conversation immediately.
"The clinician that works in our dispatch will handle all calls that have a mental health component," Bitting said. "They will be able to determine what the risk is, as well as deciphering who is going to respond to that call."
Since its inception, the CARE Team has handled about 62% of its calls without sending officers into the field, according to the department.
"Mental health is just as important as our physical health," Bitting said. "Having those conversations, letting them know the ability to help and how accessible and immediate it can be, is very important for our community to know."
Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said having clinicians in dispatch expands options for timely care while reducing unnecessary police presence.
"The clinicians can go to a house, they can talk to somebody, or they can talk to them on the phone — which is a huge piece — without having a police officer there," Parizek said.
Demand continues to climb.
From 2023 to 2024, overall calls for mobile crisis and CARE rose 50%, and CARE alone increased more than 70%, Parizek said.
Des Moines is among at least three agencies with clinicians embedded in dispatch, alongside police departments in Austin, Texas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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