St. Paul ends mental health police collaboration for 911 follow-ups

St. Paul, Minnesota, is discontinuing the Community Outreach and Stabilization Unit (COAST), a program that has assisted approximately 1,700 individuals annually with mental health, homelessness, and addiction issues. The decision was made to streamline services and eliminate overlapping responsibilities among agencies. Police Chief Axel Henry likened the previous system to a disjointed house that needed to be rebuilt for better functionality. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact on privacy and the quality of care as city employees may take over the responsibilities previously held by contracted mental health providers. Sue Abderholden from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota expressed worries that city employees may not protect sensitive information as effectively. Deputy Mayor Jaime Tincher emphasized that the change aims to improve service delivery by focusing on tracking available resources rather than delving into individuals' medical histories. The city believes that this approach will help in addressing barriers to accessing necessary services. The new system is expected to be implemented next year, with details still being finalized. Despite the transition, city officials assure that there will be no disruption in services for those who relied on COAST, and 911 response capabilities will remain unaffected.