ICARE (Irvine Community Alternative Response and Engagement) is a specialized unit within the Irvine Police Department who responds to non-violent, non-criminal mental health and substance use challenges calls for service. The team provides supportive care for individuals experiencing mental health crises, homelessness, and non-criminal behavioral issues (including youths in crisis, survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, individuals needing family counseling or welfare checks, etc). The primary focus of this team is to connect individuals in crisis with the appropriate resources to address the underlying causes of their needs. The ICARE team envisions a community where individuals experiencing mental health challenges and homelessness receive compassionate, proactive support, which empowers individuals to lead stable and fulfilling lives within our community.
The team provides key services to the community:
- Mental Health Crisis intervention
- Homeless outreach
- Referrals to appropriate service providers through County, community, and non-profit partners
- Coordinate and collaborate with the Irvine Police Department Mental Health Unit, Patrol Officers, and the City of Irvine’s Office of Health and Wellness
- Transportation, as needed, to hospitals, shelters, or other facilities
- Case management services
Our mission is to ensure that vulnerable populations within the city of Irvine receive the continuous care that they need to achieve stability, well-being, and a healthier future.
COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAMS
ICARE field response team provides comprehensive assistance to calls for service in the City of Irvine involving non-criminal, non-violent vulnerable persons, including those experiencing mental health challenges, those who are unhoused, or anyone in need of mental health support. The focus of the community response team is to build meaningful relationships with our vulnerable community members, offering informal crisis counseling/intervention, addressing urgent behavioral health needs, navigating to continued care, and collaborating with government, community, and non-profit partners. Field Responders are dispatched to calls for service as a 2-person team of unarmed, skilled and compassionate mental health first responders.
Goal: to ensure that the vulnerable persons in the City of Irvine receive compassionate care in order to achieve and support stability for the client.
Major functions:
- Conducting an initial assessment for client care needs
- Providing informal crisis counseling / intervention
- Addressing urgent behavioral health needs
- Actively connecting and providing information and referrals to appropriate services
- Making formal referrals to the Mental Health Outreach Unit and Community partners for follow-up support
- Coordinating and collaborating with other County/Non-profit/Private service providers
CARE NAVIGATION
ICARE offers case management for those who need continued support or navigation through community, government, or non-profit resources. Case management is done by phone or in-person, with the intention to provide continued compassionate support for the vulnerable populations in the City of Irvine.
Goal: to ensure that vulnerable persons in the City of Irvine receive continued compassionate care in an effort to support them in achieving stability, well-being, and a healthier future.
Major functions:
- Providing compassionate continued care for individuals who are in need
- Supporting with families and individuals who are living with mental health challenges, substance use challenges, or are unhoused
- Navigation through resources available within the city of Irvine and the County of Orange
- Providing assessment for resources that are the best fit