Michigan’s Washtenaw County co-response unit logged 1,537 activity encounters with individuals in crisis over the first 18 months after its launch, according to an evaluation from the University of Chicago Health Lab that highlighted operational challenges and opportunities to strengthen the model.
The pilot, which ran from June 2022 to December 2023, united the Washtenaw County sheriff’s office and Washtenaw County community mental health to test a co-response model in Ypsilanti Township, Mich. The program pairs a sheriff’s deputy with a master’s-level clinician to respond to behavioral health-related 911 calls.
During the pilot, the unit operated 204 overnight shifts from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. During the same period, Washtenaw County recorded 2,732 behavioral health-related 911 calls, an average of 152 per month.
About 24% of coded responses involved individuals experiencing homelessness. The evaluation also noted a second team was added in July 2024 and outlined recommendations to strengthen and scale the model.
The lab’s recommendations include:
- Enhance dispatch training by providing additional training for Metro 911 professionals to ensure consistent identification and deployment of CRU-appropriate calls.
- Increase integration between Washtenaw County sheriff’s office and Washtenaw County community mental health dispatch to improve call triage and response accuracy.
- Define and track impact by developing clearer performance metrics and data systems to better measure outcomes and long-term impact.
- Expand community awareness about the unit and how it differs from traditional law enforcement responses.
- Broaden response options by exploring additional pathways, including video support and alternative response models that may not involve law enforcement.
The evaluation was designed as an implementation study examining how the unit operated during its pilot phase. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with agency leadership, deputies, clinicians and dispatch staff; completed ride-alongs and on-scene observations; observed the county’s 911 Emergency Communications Center; and analyzed administrative data. The study focused on staffing, deployment practices, interagency coordination and service delivery patterns rather than long-term outcomes.
Read the full report here.
