Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) Program

Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) pairs a WellPower mental health clinician with a Denver Health paramedic or emergency medical technician (EMT) to respond to low risk, low acuity calls coming into the 9-1-1 system. The team can provide medical assessment/triage, crisis intervention, de escalation, transportation and resource connection for community members in need.

STAR responds to low risk calls where individuals are not in imminent risk. STAR deals with low level behavioral health crises and issues that arise from public health needs and poverty. Some examples are, trespass calls, welfare checks, intoxicated parties and mental health distress.

STAR is dispatched through Denver 9-1-1 Communications. All of the civilian call takers and dispatchers at the communications center are trained to triage STAR calls and send the most appropriate available response. The calls are screened for safety and appropriateness.

STAR is in the process of expanding city wide. As staff are hired, they will respond throughout the city seven days per week between the hours of 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Data shows that our highest call volume occurs between 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Once we have implemented resources during this time, we will continue to review the data to determine where additional resources are needed.