Ann Arbor City Council approves two crisis response programs to improve public safety and connect people with services

The Ann Arbor City Council on Monday, July 20, 2026, approved two new crisis response programs designed to strengthen Ann Arbor’s public safety system and help connect residents with the services they need.

The programs — SPROUT, the city’s new unarmed response program, and CO-RESPONSE A2 REACH, a co-response partnership between the Ann Arbor Police Department and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health — will expand the city’s ability to respond to behavioral health, substance use, homelessness, welfare check and other service-related calls by combining clinical expertise, public safety support and community-based care.

SPROUT, which stands for Supportive Resources and Outreach Team, will be a civilian-led, unarmed response program managed by Supportive Connections, Ann Arbor’s social support program. SPROUT will consist of two teams of two clinicians who will respond to defined non-emergency, low risk calls and conduct proactive outreach in the community. SPROUT clinicians will help residents navigate resources, connect with service providers and, when appropriate, coordinate with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health for continued behavioral health support.

CO-RESPONSE A2 REACH, which stands for Ann Arbor Respond, Engage, Assist, Co-Response Help, will pair a Crisis Intervention Team-trained Ann Arbor police officer with a licensed clinician provided through an intergovernmental agreement with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. The unit will be integrated into daily police operations and prioritized for calls involving behavioral health crises, safety concerns, imminent risk of harm, suicide threats or attempts, acute substance use crises, petition and transport evaluations, and other situations where a coordinated law enforcement and clinical response can improve safety and outcomes.

“These programs reflect Ann Arbor’s commitment to effective and compassionate public safety,” said Mayor Christopher Taylor. “By expanding crisis response options, we can better support people in moments of vulnerability and ensure that calls for help receive the most appropriate response. This is an important step toward a safer Ann Arbor for everyone.”

New programs will expand Ann Arbor’s crisis response options

The two programs are designed to work as complementary parts of Ann Arbor’s broader crisis response framework.

SPROUT will focus on non-emergency, low-risk situations that can be safely and effectively handled by unarmed, non-sworn clinicians. These may include unhoused concerns, welfare checks, victim support, connection to services, repeat behavioral-health-related calls and city protection order follow-up. SPROUT clinicians will also be present in the community to build relationships, identify people who may benefit from support and help prevent crises before they escalate.

CO-RESPONSE A2 REACH will support calls where behavioral health needs intersect with public safety concerns and where a combined law enforcement and clinical response is appropriate. The licensed clinician assigned to the unit will provide field-based behavioral health assessment, crisis stabilization, safety planning, care coordination and follow-up services alongside a CIT-trained AAPD officer.

Together, these programs are intended to help ensure residents receive timely support from professionals whose training matches the situation and police officers can remain focused on possible criminal incidents and public safety emergencies.

City staff researched response models before recommending local solutions

The development of both programs followed a review of crisis response programs and national best practices to better understand models that could align with Ann Arbor’s needs. City staff evaluated programs in other communities, observed operations on site and reviewed staffing, dispatch and service-delivery structures.

“City staff approached this work with care and a commitment to finding the right solutions for Ann Arbor,” said City Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr. “These programs are the result of that deliberate effort, and they position the city to provide a more complete and effective response for residents who need help.”

Implementation of pilot programs will include evaluation

Both programs will be implemented as pilot structures, allowing the city to evaluate service patterns, operational needs, community impact and long-term sustainability.

For SPROUT, the City Administrator will develop operational policies governing dispatch criteria, eligibility, risk assessment, coordination with emergency responders, documentation standards, quality assurance, workforce wellness and community engagement. Data, service delivery patterns and demonstrated impact will help guide the program’s structured hours and community presence.

For CO-RESPONSE A2 REACH, the city’s agreement with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health will support a licensed clinician for a three-year period at an amount not to exceed $135,000 annually. The agreement also includes quarterly program evaluation meetings to review performance, operational needs, staffing, training and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Funding for the programs has been allocated through the County Mental Health Millage Rebate Use resolution, with the co-response program also supported by an annual allocation of Marijuana Excise Tax Rebate Funds. The SPROUT resolution authorizes the creation of four permanent full-time positions to establish the two unarmed response units. 

# # # # #

Media Contact: 

Steve Kilar, Communications Director, skilar@a2gov.org