The Community Crisis and Health Assistance Team (CCHAT) working within the 911 system, provides trauma informed, client centered response to all vulnerable residents and visitors of Clear Creek County.

Vulnerable individuals, including seniors, at-risk youth, individuals with mental or behavioral health crisis or illness, and individuals experiencing homelessness tend to 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.

CCHAT has three functions:

1. Community Alternate Response Team: Responding to appropriately screened 911 calls for service that do not require EMS, Fire or Law Enforcement (LE).

2. Co-Response Team: Responding alongside EMS, Fire or LE to 911 calls for service involving a vulnerable person that also require other emergency service response.

3. Community Integrated Health Care Service (CIHCS) Team: Providing community paramedic services addressing gaps in access to care in Clear Creek County and providing resource navigation, basic health assessment and medication management, care coordination, and patient education.

The goal for these services is to resolve crisis, reduce or eliminate future contact with emergency services, and help seniors and others stay safe in their homes as long as possible. This in turn reduces the burden on EMS and LE so they may be available for their core functions.

CCHAT is a core public safety service that Clear Creek County is committed to maintaining and expanding in the future. CCHAT’s annual budget is $513,000 and primarily funds 4 full-time team members, a vehicle and supplies. However, at this time, CCHAT is almost entirely funded through grants, which does not provide stable, reliable funding.