Ann Arbor Pairs Officer and Social Worker for Mental Health Calls

The Ann Arbor Police Department and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health launched A2 REACH on November 13. The program sends a crisis-intervention-trained police officer and a licensed social worker together to attend 911 requests related to psychiatric emergencies in the city.

The team includes Officer Anya Shinabery and county social worker Nicole. Responders will check for immediate risks, outline steps for staying safe, and guide people toward treatment providers and local assistance. The program is intended to address urgent needs and link people to ongoing support, rather than provide long-term care.

Police Chief Andre C. Anderson said the partnership would allow a more comprehensive and compassionate response and help connect people with appropriate support. Trish Cortes, executive director of the county's Community Mental Health program, said the county had seen strong results with the model elsewhere and was confident it could achieve similar results in Ann Arbor.

A2 REACH is scheduled to be available on weekdays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone facing or observing an acute psychological emergency should call 911. Dispatchers will evaluate each situation and determine the appropriate response, including whether to send A2 REACH when the team is available.