Thank you for your interest in supporting
Correct Crisis Intervention Today – NYC (CCIT-NYC). Please fill out this form to indicate that you support the work of CCIT-NYC. We look forward to working with you and continuing to advocate for a peer-led crisis response program in New York City.
What is Correct Crisis Intervention Today – NYC (CCIT-NYC)?
We are a coalition of organizations and individuals working to transform how New York City responds to mental health crisis calls. We advocate for a non-police response to mental health crises led by peers (those with lived mental health experience).
What is the CCIT-NYC Vision?
Our model utilizes teams that would consist of one peer trained as a crisis counselor and one emergency medical technician (EMT) and would operate citywide, 24/7. Our vision utilizes 988 – rather than the police-run 911 – as the primary contact method for dispatching responders. There would be interoperability between all three digit numbers; 911, 988, and 311 and the crisis response teams dispatched via 988 would be able to request police assistance when needed. The coordinated crisis response system would include prevention, alternatives to hospitals, and robust follow-up from local service providers to avoid future crises.
Why is having a peer so important?
Having a peer on the team is essential, as a person with lived experience, a person who has “been there,” can best relate to the fear of an individual experiencing a mental health crisis. A 2024 Bazelon Center report argues peers are best suited for crisis response work because they are credible messengers, bring cultural responsiveness, are cost-effective in the long term via reduced emergency service use, and the emphasis on recovery. Is this a new idea?
Where else does this exist?
Our model is rooted in existing best practices, similar to the CAHOOTS (Oregon), STAR (Colorado), and the Gerstein Centre (Toronto, Canada) programs. A report released in April 2026 by Human Rights Watch (HRW), New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), and Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ) identified more than 150 non-police crisis response programs nationwide.
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