DeLauro Secures $2 Million in Federal Spending Bill for the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team in 2022 Funding Bill

DeLauro, Elicker, Community Leaders Urge the Senate to Include this Funding in Final Government Spending Bills

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NEW HAVEN, CT —House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today joined New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven Acting Police Chief Reneé Dominguez, Co-organizer of the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team Dr. Mehul Dalal, Co-organizer of the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team Carlos Sosa-Lombardo, Director of the planning phase of the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team Dr. Michael Rowe, and Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Medical Director Dr. Charles Dike to celebrate funding for the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team clearing a critical hurdle in Congress. This mobile crisis team program will be integrated into New Haven's newly proposed Department of Community Resiliency and will respond to incidents that may be best addressed by trained social services staff utilizing a suite of services and programs.

For the first time, Chair DeLauro included Community Project Funding in the federal spending bills. DeLauro led House Appropriations Committee passage of the fiscal year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies funding bill which includes $2 million for the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team.

"Far too often, those experiencing mental health—or other emergencies—rely on 9-1-1 services during a crisis. In many cases, the police, fire, and EMS are the first line of response in addressing social problems, including issues related to homelessness, welfare checks, substance use and mental health crises. This status quo approach leads to the overburdening of current first responders," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I am committed to meeting the needs of our communities in a transparent and accountable way, which is why I am proud that we have been able to secure $2 million in Community Project Funding for the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team in the 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies funding bill that recently cleared an important hurdle when it passed out of the committee. If enacted, the Community Crisis Response Team would be a vital complement to our brave women and men who serve in our police departments and fire departments and would be staffed with a licensed social worker and other specialists. I am passionate about providing these critical services for everyone in our communities and will be fighting for this project when we come together with the Senate on a final bill for next year."

"Over this past year, my administration has been working tirelessly to reimagine the way that government can serve the residents of our city," said Mayor of New Haven Justin Elicker. "Today, through partnership with our incredible Congresswoman DeLauro, I am proud to say that these new, innovative programs are likely to get the funding they need to become a reality. Creating a Community Crisis Response Team, one of the first in the nation, to integrate mental healthcare and social workers directly into our 9-1-1 dispatch will realign our approach to public safety to one focused on social services, not just on law enforcement. At the same time that we take a new approach to public safety, we also have to create more opportunities for our children. Funding for the New Haven Public Schools Manufacturing Technology program will give many of our young people the chance to get trained for good paying jobs and lifelong careers right in high school. This funding is about racial equity, both in creating opportunity and realigning the role of government to one that focuses on the well-being of every New Haven resident. Congresswoman DeLauro has been a champion for our people, and this is just the latest in a long line of her advocacy and tireless work for those who need it. I am grateful for her partnership and eager to see these programs implemented to move us closer to a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive."

"The success of the New Haven Police Department is in part built by the deep rooted tradition of partnerships and collaboration," said New Haven Police Chief Reneé Dominguez. "The formation of the New Haven Community Crisis Response Team is another partnership that not only continues this tradition but aids in our continuous progression of the services we provide our community. The New Haven Police Department cannot do this alone. We embrace this new partnership and look forward to the enhanced work we, as a City and an agency, will provide to the citizens of New Haven."

"It's widely agreed that integrating mental health professionals into New Haven's emergency response system is the right thing to do," said Community Services Administrator Dr. Mehul Dalal. "With support from the Community Project Funding, we now have a clear path to bring this vision to fruition for the benefit of the New Haven Community."

"We expect that the pilot will begin early next year," said Special Projects Director Carlos Sosa-Lombardo. "As the project manager on the city side, it is exciting to see this level of commitment from the federal government for this program, because we must stop arresting our way out of social problems. With this funding level, we will be able to bring more opportunities to our residents. Opportunities to turn their lives around, opportunities to connect them to the right services during moments of crisis. It's about getting people the help they need."

"I am excited about today's event and the funding of New Haven Community Crisis Response. This welcome development will complement already existing services and enhance the mental health infrastructure of New Haven," said Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Medical Director Dr. Charles Dike. "This funding initiative is imperative as communities such as New Haven build the necessary, comprehensive infrastructure for on-the-ground mental health response for individuals in mental health crisis."

DeLauro's statement at the Committee's markup of the fiscal year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill is here. A summary of the bill is here.

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