Ann Arbor Police Department launches crisis response program A2REACH with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
The Ann Arbor Police Department launched A2 REACH (Respond, Engage, Assist, Co-response Help) Nov. 12, a new crisis response partnership with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. The program brings together a fully equipped AAPD officer and a licensed social worker to respond to 911 calls involving mental health crises and provide coordinated support to community members in need.
“By bringing law enforcement and mental health professionals together, A2 REACH allows us to provide a more comprehensive, compassionate response to community members experiencing a crisis,” said Ann Arbor Police Chief Andre C. Anderson. “This partnership helps us connect people with appropriate support and resources when they need them most, while improving outcomes for individuals, families and our community.”
“We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with the Ann Arbor Police Department and creating A2 REACH,” said Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Executive Director Trish Cortes. “We have seen tremendous results with this model in other parts of the county and are confident we will see those same results in the city of Ann Arbor.”
A2 REACH partners an officer trained in crisis intervention with the clinical experience of a licensed mental health professional. The team consists of AAPD Officer Anya Shinabery and Mental Health Co-response Clinician Nicole Berent, a licensed master social worker with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health.
When responding to a 911 call involving a mental health crisis, the A2 REACH team will work together to provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, assess immediate safety concerns, develop safety plans and connect people with mental health services and community resources. The program focuses on addressing immediate needs and facilitating connections to ongoing support rather than providing long-term care.
Officer Shinabery joined AAPD in December 2023 and previously served as an AAPD cadet. She is a member of the department’s Crisis Intervention Team and studied chemical dependency counseling while attending the University of Toledo, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Berent has more than six years of experience in acute psychiatric care, mobile crisis response and community mental health. Her background includes trauma-informed interventions and supporting individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan.
A2 REACH will operate Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Community members experiencing or witnessing a mental health crisis should call 911. Dispatchers will assess the situation and determine the best response, including A2 REACH when the team is available and appropriate.
The launch of A2 REACH comes after the Ann Arbor City Council approved two new crisis response programs earlier this year designed to strengthen Ann Arbor’s public safety system and help connect residents with the services they need.
The A2 REACH logo was developed and selected with input from community members, reflecting AAPD’s commitment to community engagement and collaboration in shaping this new service.
Through this partnership, AAPD and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health aim to strengthen crisis response and improve connections to support and services for individuals and families in the Ann Arbor community.
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Media Contact:
Chris Page, Ann Arbor Police Department Communications Manager, cpage@a2gov.org