Crisis Systems
Across the nation, communities are recognizing that building comprehensive crisis prevention and response systems is critical to supporting people with behavioral health needs. As communities work to build their crisis systems, they are also increasingly looking to expand beyond typical police responses by connecting people to care at the point of calls to 911, coordinating with 988, and deploying options such as community responders, co-response teams, and mobile crisis teams.
Having such systems in place can help reduce overreliance on law enforcement and improve health. With JMHCP support, jurisdictions can ensure that their interventions are part of a larger comprehensive, coordinated crisis system, informed by data and led by a diverse group of community stakeholders. Jurisdictions can also provide post-crisis support, case management, follow-up, and other services to interrupt cycles of repeated crises.
988: A Shared Opportunity for Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Partners
Selected Resources
Leveraging 988 to Bridge Gaps Within Communities
Crisis Systems, Law Enforcement, Mental Health
Community-Driven Crisis Response: A Workbook for Coordinators
Crisis Systems
Key Staff
Kaniyaa Francis
Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health
Kaniyaa Francis provides technical assistance and education to Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grantees and projects related to crisis response alternatives and community responder programs. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, Kaniyaa was an associate research manager at Public Health Advocates, where she led policy research, development, and advocacy in California at the state and local levels. Over the years, Kaniyaa has facilitated the adoption and implementation of policies spanning a wide range of topic areas, including public safety reform and alternatives to emergency response systems, housing and homelessness, and childhood trauma and prevention of adverse childhood experiences. Kaniyaa holds a BS from the University of California, Davis, and an MPH from Columbia University.
Katie Holihen
Project Manager, Behavioral Health
Katie Holihen works to advance locally driven state policymaking at the intersection of criminal justice, behavioral health, and housing. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, Katie was a grant analyst at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office in Chicago, where she worked with cross-sector partners to launch holistic defense and data analytics programs. She also led curriculum development for national law enforcement training initiatives in procedural justice and cultural humility at the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Katie has a BA in history and political science from Marquette University and an MSW from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Kate Reed
Project Manager, Behavioral Health
Kate Reed leads initiatives focused on addressing equity and supporting the expansion of alternative interventions for people with behavioral health challenges in the justice system. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, Kate led the Stepping Up Initiative for the City of Philadelphia on behalf of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services and used a data-driven approach to develop programs and policies aimed at reducing the number of people with serious mental illness in jail. Kate also played a key role in the development and implementation of Philadelphia’s crisis system transformation. Kate earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology from The George Washington University and is a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania.