Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) Program

STAR responds to any person in Denver needing urgent help related to mental health distress, poverty, homelessness, substance misuse, resource needs and more. The team can provide medical assessment/triage, crisis intervention, de-escalation, transportation and resource connection for community members in need.

STAR is dispatched through Denver 9-1-1 Communications. All of the civilian call takers and dispatchers at the communications center are trained to triage STAR calls and send the most appropriate available response. All calls are screened for safety and appropriateness.

STAR operates and is dispatched to calls in the city of Denver. STAR operates seven days a week, 365 between the hours of 6 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Data shows that the highest call volume occurs between 6 a.m.-10 p.m. The STAR team is currently expanding to better meet the demand of this time frame. The STAR teams’ goal is to expand to 24/7 coverage when there is capacity. The program is currently building capacity with the goal of expanding to 24/7 coverage by 2025.

As of February 2024

• Hours of Operation: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Sunday.
• Staff/Vehicles (current total count): 16 EMT/ paramedics, 16 behavioral health clinicians, 8 vans.
• Staff/Vehicles Expansion (fall 2023 new total count): 16 EMT/ paramedics, 16 behavioral health clinicians, 8 vans.
• Volume/Outcomes: Since June 1, 2020, STAR has responded to over 8,000 calls that would have otherwise been dispatched to police. 41% of individuals served by STAR were referred to formal mental health or substance use treatment. 38% of people served by STAR were transported to a community resource.

• STAR Community Advisory Committee- provides guidance and helps to raise awareness and understanding of the program within the community.
• Servicios de la Raza- provides culturally responsive wrap-around services.
• WellPower- Denver's community behavioral health care provider, staffs mental health clinicians on board STAR vans.
• Denver Health Paramedic Division- Denver's emergency medical services provider, staffs paramedics and EMTs on board STAR vans.
• Denver 911- dispatches appropriate response.

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