MARC News

A partnership between ReDiscover Mental Health and the Raytown, Missouri, police and fire departments is working to reduce arrests, emergency room visits and repeat 911 calls. The initiative partners mental health professionals, police officers and community paramedics to respond to 911 calls involving individuals facing a mental health, substance use or a related crisis.

"I’ve been a paramedic for 32 years and I believe the co-responder program is the most consequential work I've ever done. It’s more impactful. It's saving lives and improving people's outcomes."

Matthew Cushman, Community Paramedic, Raytown Fire Department

Raytown co-responders have police-issued radios and can access the CAD computer system showing 911 calls coming in. They can self-dispatch to a location or be called out by officers. Co-responders help officers de-escalate an individual in crisis and assess the person for suicidal ideation and other behavioral health needs.

“I talk with the person experiencing the crisis about their mental health history, potential substance use, housing situation and the things bothering them,” said Michael Hunt, co-responder with ReDiscover. “Based on their needs, I try to give referrals to appropriate care and resources.”

Raytown Police Department presents ReDiscover co-responder Michael Hunt 2024 Civilian of the Year Award

Community paramedics evaluate both psychological factors and medical reasons for a crisis. “I ask is this elderly person hallucinating because she has a UTI or is this person combative because they’re diabetic and their blood sugars low?” said Cushman. “If the answer is yes, then we need to get this person to a hospital so they can get proper care.”

Partnering with community paramedics and co-responders on 911 calls has had a positive impact on the Raytown Police Department. “There are incidents where the simple presence of police officers can cause a person in crisis to escalate their behavior,” said Officer Desiree Hart. “Having a co-responder and community paramedic respond to calls without law enforcement can help establish trust and allows officers to respond to other situations within the community."

Officer D. Hart of the Raytown Police Department was named CIT Officer of the Year in January 2024 by the Mid-America Crisis Intervention Team Council.

“We won’t make an impact if people feel we don’t care. We have to meet everybody on their level and let them know we're only here to help.”

Michael Hunt, Co-Responder, ReDiscover

From July 2022 through August 2025, co-responders supporting the Raytown Police Department have responded to 1,309 calls involving individuals experiencing behavioral health, substance use or related crises. Since 2024, co-responders conducted 76 detention assessments for individuals in custody to determine appropriate behavioral health interventions or support services. Through these collaborative efforts, the program has successfully diverted 18.4% of cases from emergency departments and 7.7% from incarceration, ensuring individuals receive timely, appropriate care in the least restrictive environment.

ReDiscover’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinic in Raytown has further strengthened the co-responder program by enabling warm handoffs to clinical care for further stabilization, improving access to services and reducing unnecessary ER visits. The clinic is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Patients can obtain same day medications at the clinic, receive same-day Medicaid and meet with a mental health professional and case manager.

Partners in the co-responder program include ReDiscover and Burrell Behavioral Health Centers, the Mid-America Regional Council, and the cities of Blue Springs, Buckner, Grain Valley, Grandview, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Oak Grove and Raytown, Missouri. Funded through 2026 by a grant through the Bureau of Justice Assistance Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Program, MARC administers the grant and assesses the program’s outcomes and impact.

Learn about ReDiscover's co-responder program Contact MARC about the Eastern Jackson County co-responder program

Raytown co-responder program aims to divert 911 calls from jail, emergency rooms to community-based support services

Mental health professionals, police officers and community paramedics join forces to connect people in crisis to appropriate resources