Community Alternative Response Emergency Servies (CARES)
An alternative emergency response to mental health crises and behavioral emergencies, CARES is a two-person response team comprised of Saint Paul Fire Department Emergency Medical Technicians.
Our CARES Team responds to non-violent mental health crises and behavioral emergencies within Saint Paul. Teams interact with some of our most vulnerable residents who are unsheltered, sheltered, and at local service providers, following up with them after a crisis in an effort to connect them with the services they may need.
The CARES Team also engages our neighbors at times when they are not in crisis, as relationship-building is a core tenet of our Community-First Public Safety framework.
What are the goals of CARES?
- Reduce frequent or repetitive use of emergency services by connecting patients with additional support services
- Reduce the need for an emergent police, fire, and/or EMS response
- Appropriate care recommendations for our most vulnerable populations
CARES Program Coordinator
CARES is headquartered at Fire Station 1 at 645 Randolph Avenue. The program's Coordinator is Deputy Chief Dwayne Gibbs. Chief Gibbs started with the Saint Paul Fire Department in 1994, where he worked as a Firefighter/Paramedic until 2004. Chief Gibbs went on to work with The Harvest Youth Center with at-risk youth and as a program director for Prison Fellowship Academy at Lino Lakes Correctional Facility. He rejoined the Saint Paul Fire Department in February of 2022 to serve as the CARES Coordinator.
Currently, CARES responds to calls citywide Monday-Thursday from 7am-3pm. As capacity grows, CARES is intended to expand to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
