San Mateo and Foster City Police Departments Collaborate to Expand the Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 

January 30, 2024                                                                   

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The San Mateo and Foster City Police Departments are excited to announce the expansion of the Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team with the hiring of a full-time licensed mental health clinician that will support both cities. 

The Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) was first created as a pilot program that included four police departments in San Mateo County, including the San Mateo Police Department, in December 2021.  The program revolves around a mental health clinician working alongside a police officer and focuses on de-escalating certain high-risk emergency calls and providing compassionate and proper care for those individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.  San Mateo County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) partnered with StarVista, a local nonprofit that delivers high impact services through counseling and crisis intervention to individuals, to train and supervise the clinicians.

The program added a critical element to emergency response.  A mental health clinician is dispatched along with police officers to calls for service with individuals suspected of experiencing mental or behavioral health crises.  After the police officer determines the scene to be safe, the clinician is able to assess the individual and identify opportunities for immediate care and intervention and is able to assist with future support and services that may be needed. 

According to San Mateo Police Chief Ed Barberini, "Our Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team has proven to be a transformative force in emergency response, providing compassionate care during high-risk situations. The expansion into Foster City, with the addition of the highly qualified Linda Allen, underscores our commitment to fostering safer and healthier communities by addressing mental health challenges collaboratively."

With the success of the program over the last two years in San Mateo, San Mateo Police Department collaborated with Foster City Police Department to expand the program beyond San Mateo’s city limits and to start a program in Foster City.  The two departments selected Linda Allen as the newest mental health clinician.  Allen will spend her time serving both the communities of San Mateo and Foster City.  Allen holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.  Allen has a diverse professional background serving the San Mateo County Community College District, fostering a deep understanding of community dynamics.  Her extensive experience includes collaborating with individuals grappling with addiction and mental health challenges, with notable contributions with juveniles and behavioral heath services.  The addition of Allen to the Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team will start this program in Foster City and expand clinician coverage in San Mateo to six days a week with a trained clinician on duty. 

Foster City Police Chief Tracy Avelar is excited about bringing the program to the Foster City Police Department.  “We are excited to partner with the San Mateo Police Department and are grateful to the County for funding half of our shared clinician. The addition of a clinician to assist on calls for service involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis is so beneficial. We look forward to the positive impact that Linda will bring to our communities and police departments,” said Chief Avelar.