Mobile Crisis Response Program Honored for Innovative Regional Leadership

(SACRAMENTO, CA) — Today, the California Association of Council of Governments (CALCOG) announced that the San Gabriel Valley Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (SGV CARE) program has been named as the first recipient of the newly minted Eureka! Award. The award invited nominations from CALCOG’s network of 49 member agencies from across the state for regional projects or programs that showcase “Regional Excellence” through innovation, elements of collaboration, and best practices.

First launched in 2022, SGV CARE is led by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and operated by the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol & Drug Abuse (LACADA), a licensed provider of substance use and behavioral treatment services. Crisis response teams are staffed by LACADA and embedded into 911 dispatch centers to help divert non-violent calls for service from law enforcement and toward clinicians, peer navigators, and other mental health professionals. Importantly, SGV CARE improves direct access to mental and behavioral health services, while freeing police departments to focus their resources on public safety.

“As Mayor of La Verne, there are few projects that I’m more proud of than the launch of SGV CARE in my city and cities across the San Gabriel Valley. This program has transformed our region’s response to the twin crises of mental health and homelessness,” said Tim Hepburn, who serves both as President of SGVCOG and Second Vice President of CALCOG. “On behalf of our San Gabriel Valley community, we are incredibly honored to be recognized at the statewide level as a model for innovation for other jurisdictions.”

“Regions are a natural place for local innovation. Regional agencies encourage cities and counties to collaborate and pool resources to address common local problems,” said Bill Higgins, Executive Director of CALCOG. “The Eureka! Award recognizes the best of these programs. The SGV CARES program is an inspiring example of this kind of innovation.”

From left to right: CalCOG Deputy Director Sabrina Bradbury, SGVCOG Management Analyst Samuel Pedersen, CalCOG Executive Director Bill Higgins, and SGVCOG Director of Government Relations Ricky Choi. Photo courtesy of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.

The SGV CARE program was launched in partnership with the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab as part of a nationwide initiative to develop 911 emergency response alternatives. Since the initial pilot, SGV CARE has been expanded to include the cities of Arcadia, La Verne, Monrovia, San Marino, and South Pasadena.