Compassionate Allies Serving our Streets

A Comprehensive Approach to Crisis Response

The Elm City COMPASS initiative has four parts: a communityresponder team for mental health or substance use crises, improvements to thecrisis response service system, a standing Community Advisory Board of NewHaven residents, and a comprehensive evaluation.

After a 38-month pilot period directed by the YaleSchool of Medicine on behalf of the City of New Haven, Continuum of Care, Inc. nowdirectly manages the community responder team, and Yale continues to manage servicesystem improvements, the Community Advisory Board, and the evaluation. All partsof COMPASS are coordinated and administered in collaboration with the City ofNew Haven, Community Services Administration.

The COMPASS crisis response team complements and supports the work of New Haven first responders to 911 calls and through outreach. The team consists of a social worker and a peer with lived experience.
‍
COMPASS meets regularly with service system providers, advocates, faith leaders, and businesses to enhance collaboration, coordination, and integration of services across the service system. 
‍
The COMPASS Community Advisory Board of New Haven residents ensures that the COMPASS remains true to community needs and values. 
‍
The COMPASS evaluation uses continuous quality improvement of the crisis response team and assesses the effectiveness of COMPASS for individuals served, the community, and the service system.