Dallas expands mental health crisis care to support minors and families

The City of Dallas and Parkland Health have launched a six-month pilot to extend the RIGHT Care program to minors. The initiative builds on an existing service that sends specialist teams to mental health crises. It now includes support for children and teenagers, with a focus on whole-family needs. Dallas first introduced the RIGHT Care Program in 2018. Since then, teams of a police officer, paramedic and clinician have responded to mental health emergencies. Their goal is to stabilise patients on scene and link them to local services rather than arrest or hospital admission.

Each team follows a set process. The officer secures the area while the paramedic and clinician assess the individual. The clinician then decides on the best course, whether that involves clinic visits, medication support or addressing social issues.

The pilot now tests two additional teams for calls involving minors. These teams operate daily between 3 and 11 p.m. They can be dispatched through 911 scans, direct requests, or notifications from police and schools.

In the first six weeks, the expanded service handled 63 calls. Of these, 59 cases were diverted from jail, with many others avoiding hospital admission. The pilot programme runs for six months and aims to provide better care for young people in crisis. Early results show a high rate of diversions from custodial and hospital settings. The approach prioritises family-centred solutions and community-based support.