Community Crisis and Health Assistance Team (CCHAT)

About

The Community Crisis and Health Assistance Team, or CCHAT is a coordinated effort with Clear Creek EMS, the Clear Creek County Department of Human Services, Board of County Commissioners, and law enforcement agencies including the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office.

The CCHAT is a program under Clear Creek EMS focused on providing support to vulnerable populations in Clear Creek County. Vulnerable populations are individuals within the community who have a higher dependence on emergency services to address their medical and basic needs and are at higher risk for exploitation, victimization, and criminal justice involvement. They often have unmet needs that precipitate contact with emergency services. Vulnerable populations include: Individuals experiencing a mental or behavioral health (substance use) crisis or illness; at-risk youth and adults including those experiencing intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities; aging/elderly adults; individuals experiencing homelessness.

The CCHAT has three functions:

1. A Community Alternate Response Team, which responds to appropriately screened 911 calls for service which do not require EMS, Fire or Law Enforcement (LE).  The team aims to de-escalate and resolve each call with the least restrictive means including safety planning and resource navigation in order to reduce or eliminate future contact with emergency services.

2. A Co-response Team, which responds alongside EMS, Fire or LE to calls for service involving a vulnerable person that also require EMS, Fire, or LE presence. The team supports de-escalation, conducts mental health and needs assessments, assists with determining appropriate call resolution, and always advocates for the physical, mental, and behavioral health needs of the vulnerable person.

3. A Community Integrated Health Care Service (CIHCS) Team which, under the CIHCS License, helps address the gaps in access to care in Clear Creek County. The team will provide resource navigation, basic health assessment and medication management, care coordination, and patient education to vulnerable populations. Patients will be identified through a crisis intervention/911 system, social services agencies, and via referrals from hospitals or other health care providers.

Alternate and Co-response models are well-researched. CCHAT is an innovative concept in how first responders can effectively help and respond to an increasing number of challenging calls made to 911. The CIHCS function serves as the driving tool to integrate all facets of patient care in Clear Creek County. The CCHAT program aims to reduce the reliance on emergency services to fill unmet need, support our first responder partners, and help the vulnerable populations in Clear Creek County navigate the complex and often difficult-to-access systems of care.