What is CAHOOTS?

CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) is a non-police crisis intervention model operating in Eugene, Oregon. CAHOOTS provides mobile crisis intervention 24/7 in the Eugene area. CAHOOTS is dispatched through the police-fire-ambulance system through a non-emergency number. Each team consists of a medical professional and a crisis worker. The overall goal of the group is to reduce police contact for those who are experiencing non-violent crisis situations. These situations include, but are not limited to:

• mental health-related crises
• conflict resolution
• welfare checks
• substance abuse
• suicidality
• housing crisis
• urgent transportation
• non-emergent medical issues

Why CJP is interested in CAHOOTS

The CAHOOTS model is attractive at this point because the country has been demanding a change in how we deal with public safety. The CAHOOTS model offers a change. While it's been very successful in for those experiencing crisis in Eugene, it has also been very cost effective. The Eugene and surrounding area Police Department has a combined annual budget of $90 million. In 2017, the CAHOOTS team answered nearly 17% of EPD's calls and saved the city an estimated $8.5 million in public safety spending. Clearly, we can see this type of model works. At CJP, we want to suggest the same model in Chicago. 

The CAHOOTS team at CJP has been conducting research to encourage a similar model in Chicago. Kamaya, the CAHOOTS project lead, guides her volunteers in research efforts to determine how we can bring a program like CAHOOTS to Chicago.

Contact Kamaya at [email protected] with interest.