CARES, the city of Madison’s alternative response service for behavioral health emergencies, announced the activation of a third team to respond to calls for service on weekdays.
CARES 3 is on duty Monday–Friday from 12–10 p.m., responding from the old town of Madison fire station on Fish Hatchery Road. The addition of a third team allows the CARES program to expand its service capacity in response to ongoing demand.
Each CARES team is composed of a Madison Fire Department community paramedic and a Journey Mental Health crisis worker. These teams are trained and equipped to respond to nonviolent behavioral health emergencies that do not require law enforcement. CARES responds to calls throughout the city of Madison.
In addition to CARES 3, two other CARES teams are on duty on weekdays from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. One CARES team is on duty on weekends from 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
