C.A.R.E. stands for Crisis Assessment and Response to Emergencies. Each Alliance C.A.R.E. Team includes a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer, a paramedic, and a licensed mental health professional. The team responds in the community 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM, instead of you traveling to an emergency room.

When the C.A.R.E. Team responds, you get a clinician on scene, not just a police officer or paramedic. The team handles minor medical screening, mental health assessment, and connection to community resources. The goal is to keep people out of emergency rooms and jail by addressing the actual mental health need.

The C.A.R.E. Team helps when someone has a mental health history and needs evaluation but is not in immediate danger or actively violent. Examples include someone struggling with medication compliance, repeat 911 calls, or a non-violent psychiatric concern. Call (901) 369-1410 to request a C.A.R.E. response.

There is no direct charge for an Alliance C.A.R.E. Team response in the community. If the team connects you to ongoing Alliance services, billing for those services follows standard Alliance policy — TennCare, Medicare, most insurance, sliding fee, or the Behavioral Health Safety Net Program. No one is denied care due to inability to pay.

After an on-scene assessment, the C.A.R.E. Team connects you or your loved one to the right next step: outpatient mental health, the Crisis Wellness Center, psychiatric care, peer support, or community resources. The team also follows up to make sure the connection actually happens, not just a referral handed off.