Board of Supervisors approves funding for mobile crisis teams through Measure O

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today authorized the funding of five mobile crisis agreements to ensure that emergency mental health services in the cities of Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Cotati and Rohnert Park, and Sonoma State University, will be able to continue through June 30, 2026. The contracts amount to $5.98 million, reflecting an increase of 61% over the previous fiscal year, and are funded by Measure O, the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020 for mental health and homelessness services.

“We heard from our city partners how vital these services are and what they need in order to sustain them,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “Fortunately, we were able to meet their financial requests to keep their programs going this year, and we’ll be working with them on strategies for maintaining funding over subsequent years.”

Mobile crisis units are teams of professionals that respond to emergency mental health calls. They work closely with law enforcement, typically responding instead of law enforcement when there is no threat to public safety, which reduces barriers to people requesting help.

The City of Santa Rosa has the inRESPONSE team, and the Cities of Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park and the campus of Sonoma State University have the SAFE, or Specialized Assistance for Everyone, team. Sonoma County’s Department of Health Services’ Mobile Support Team covers the cities of Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Windsor, Sebastopol and Sonoma, as well as all of unincorporated Sonoma County, and also provides backup to the other two teams to ensure comprehensive coverage.

As Petaluma Police Chief Brian Miller said recently: “The SAFE Team has transformed how we support individuals in crisis by providing a compassionate, non-law enforcement response that prioritizes connection, care and long-term solutions. By responding independently while working in partnership with public safety personnel, the SAFE Team helps bridge critical gaps for those facing mental health challenges, substance use issues, or who are unhoused or experiencing housing instability. This approach not only gets people the help they need but also allows our police officers to remain available for emergency situations where their presence is truly needed. Thanks to Measure O funding from the County of Sonoma, we’ve been able to sustain and continue this invaluable resource for our community.”

Funding amounts approved by the Board of Supervisors today include $3.04 million for the City of Santa Rosa, $1.49 million for the City of Petaluma, $1.17 million for the City of Rohnert Park, $188,000 for the City of Cotati and $86,000 for Sonoma State University.

The future of the Sonoma County Mobile Crisis Services Continuum will depend on accessing the funding available through the state Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Benefit. In accordance with the State mandate, the County’s Mobile Support Team has been certified and available 24/7, 365 days a year, since last spring to provide full crisis support to Medi-Cal recipients and others, and DHS is supporting inRESPONSE and SAFE to become Medi-Cal certified within the next several months. Having all three entities certified will provide for more consistent customer service across the county and facilitate greater financial sustainability.

“We heard the cities’ concerns and recognize the value of these programs to residents all around the county,” said Nolan Sullivan, DHS director. “Thanks to Measure O, we’ll continue working alongside our partner mobile crisis service providers to ensure that individuals receive the urgent mental health care they need and deserve, regardless of where they are in the county.”

What the jurisdictions are saying

Santa Rosa Police Chief John Cregan:

“We are deeply grateful to the County of Sonoma for its investment in the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team. This funding is not just a financial commitment, it is a powerful affirmation of our shared belief that compassionate, community-based crisis response saves lives. The inRESPONSE program has become a vital part of how we serve and protect our community, ensuring that those experiencing mental health crises receive the care and support they need, when they need it most.”

Cotati Mayor Ben Ford:

“We are always looking for ways to better serve our community, including sending the right people to assist our loved ones and neighbors when they are in mental health crisis. In 2021, this led to the creation of our Specialized Assistance for Everyone (SAFE) team, together with Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University, which now serves our combined communities 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. However, none of this would be possible without the continued funding support from Measure O. We very much appreciate the ongoing commitment and partnership from the County Board of Supervisors to maintain and expand these critical services to our residents.”

Rohnert Park Mayor Gerard Giudice:

“Rohnert Park would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the head of the Department of Health Services Nolan Sullivan and his team for the continued funding of our Specialized Assistance for Everyone (SAFE) team. This funding affirms our shared belief that mental health is community health. The SAFE Team embodies the compassion and responsiveness that residents deserve, and we are proud to stand alongside our County partners to ensure help is accessible around the clock. Together, we’re setting a higher standard for what crisis care can look like when we put people first.”

Sonoma State University Interim President Emily Cutrer:

“Sonoma State appreciates the supervisors’ continued support of the SAFE Team, which provides 24/7 crisis response to Sonoma State University students and to individuals in our partner communities. SAFE is crucial for providing timely, community-based mental health support with a personal approach and reflects the university’s commitment to programs and partnerships that engage and support the entire region.”

Petaluma Police Chief Brian Miller:

“The SAFE Team has transformed how we support individuals in crisis by providing a compassionate, non-law enforcement response that prioritizes connection, care and long-term solutions. By responding independently while working in partnership with public safety personnel, the SAFE Team helps bridge critical gaps for those facing mental health challenges, substance use issues, or who are unhoused or experiencing housing instability. This approach not only gets people the help they need but also allows our police officers to remain available for emergency situations where their presence is truly needed. Thanks to Measure O funding from the County of Sonoma, we’ve been able to sustain and continue this invaluable resource for our community.”

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Media Contact:
Sheri Cardo, DHS Communications Specialist
sheri.cardo@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-8619