Who we are
We are a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to bringing community responders to Erie County. Community responders are first responders, just like firefighters, police, and paramedics, who respond
immediately, in person, to low-risk calls related to health and social needs, including but not limited to those related to mental and emotional distress, drug use, arguments, homelessness, and poverty. Teams are composed of health professionals and peers with lived experience and respond to calls independently, without police. They aren’t dispatched to calls involving violence, crimes in progress or medical emergencies, except as a secondary response.
Our visionOur ultimate goal is for every person in Erie County to have access to community responders 24 hours a day, every day of the year, with a response time of 30 minutes or less. Community responder teams should be accessible via a direct phone line, 211, 311, 988, and 911 so that no matter how a person attempts to access help they will receive an appropriate response to their need. Eventually, all low-risk calls involving health or social needs, from anywhere in Erie County, should be directed to a community responder team.
Our values
We believe that community responder teams must be:
- Culturally reflective Community responders and their organizations must reflect and be accountable to the community they serve.
- Consent-based. Each individual has autonomy and the right to make their own decisions about their bodies and wellbeing.
- Peer-driven & person-centered. Care is delivered by people who understand because of their own experiences. Care is offered based on the individual’s expressed needs and desires.
- Timely. First responders must arrive quickly to be helpful. Every call should have a response time of 30 minutes or less.
- Well-resourced. Workers deserve family-supporting wages and benefits, time off, supportive supervision, a healthy work environment, and a voice in decision-making.
- Self-determined. Community safety and well-being are all of our responsibilities. Communities can determine and define for themselves how safety and care are achieved. The community has the skills to take care of itself, community responders just add their support.
Coalition membership
By joining the coalition, you are expressing support for community responders as described above and share these values. In addition, coalition members are required to:
- Attend and participate in at least four meetings a year
- Participate in advocacy (as described below)
Membership is renewed annually. In addition, if you are joining as an organizational member, by signing this form you consent to the coalition listing your organization name and logo on promotional materials as a member organization. Individual names will not be listed publicly. The coalition reserves the right to deny or remove membership of any individual or organization for violations of our shared values and principles.
