Research Assistant
Burlington, Vermont, United States
Purpose of the research study: This project will explore alternative emergency response systems and in particular examine Eugene, Oregon’s CAHOOTS program, which stands for Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets. The program is funded through the police department and operated by a community health clinic, and it allows for the dispatch of unarmed outreach workers trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation to answer 911 calls that are not crime-related. This partnership between law enforcement, social work, rescue, and mental health professionals could serve as a prototype for law enforcement agencies across the country. The goal is to engage students interested in multi-disciplinary teaming to research CAHOOTS, engage with local law enforcement, social work, rescue, and mental health agencies and investigate the possibility of establishing a similar program in Vermont communities.