What We’re Reading: In Baltimore, 911 Now Has More Ways to Help
Baltimore is pioneering a transformative approach to emergency response by expanding the scope of its 911 services. Traditionally focused on dispatching police, fire, or medical help, the city now redirects some calls to specialized teams equipped to handle mental health crises, poverty, and addiction without defaulting to law enforcement. This initiative, funded by opioid-related legal settlements, aims to tailor responses to the specific needs of callers, offering resources like housing and legal assistance instead of punitive measures.
This expansion not only promises to reduce violence and incarceration rates but also underscores a commitment to addressing the root causes of societal issues. By integrating social services into emergency response, Baltimore is setting a precedent for how cities can foster safer and more supportive communities. The initiative reflects a broader understanding of public safety, emphasizing care over control, and could serve as a model for other urban areas rethinking their emergency protocols.
Constructive analysis
The constructive-journalism lens: not just what happened, but what works.
- The problem
- Traditional 911 services often funnel individuals in crisis into the criminal justice system, which may not address underlying issues like mental health or poverty.
- The actions
- Baltimore is using funds from opioid-related legal settlements to expand 911 responses to include social services that address specific needs.
- Evidence of progress
- The initiative is funded by legal settlements and aims to provide tailored assistance, such as housing and legal help, rather than defaulting to police intervention.
- What we can learn
- Cities can reimagine emergency services to prioritize social support, reducing reliance on law enforcement and potentially lowering incarceration rates.
PERMA profile of this story
How this story scores across the PERMA dimensions.
- Positive Emotion
- 8
- Engagement
- 7
- Relationships
- 9
- Meaning
- 8
- Accomplishment
- 7
Character strengths in play
Top VIA strengths this story embodies.
Hope
Imagine knowing that if you called 911, the dispatcher would figure out what kind of help you needed.
Kindness
The goal is to reduce violence and solve problems without sending people facing poverty, addiction or mental health issues into the criminal justice system.
Courage
Baltimore is creating a broader service to respond to other crises that don’t require traditional emergency services.
Try this today
Next time you encounter a challenging situation, consider what specific support is needed rather than default solutions. Reflect on how a tailored response could better address the root of the issue, much like Baltimore's approach to crisis calls.