Mobile mental health Crisis Response
We serve communities through unarmed, trauma-informed, culturally affirming crisis response
Creating Alternatives for Real Change
At Canopy Roots, we envision a world where mental health crises are met with empathy, not force. Our unarmed, trauma-informed crisis response team is here to serve communities by responding to crises with respect, cultural understanding, and true compassion.
In most US cities, police officers are the primary first responders for mental health 911 calls. Unfortunately, most officers are not trained to properly meet the needs of behavioral crisis situations. Research conducted nationwide shows that officer involvement can make behavioral health crisis situations worse; this is particularly true in Black communities and other communities of color, which have disproportionately shouldered the harms of policing.
Canopy Roots believes it is time to build safer communities by developing civilian-led crisis response programs in partnership with local governments.
1 in 20 adults
in the U.S. experiences a serious mental health issue each year.
1 in 4 fatal interactions with police
involves someone with mental health needs.
1 in 4 adults
lacks access to consistent healthcare services.
Compassionate UNARMED FIRST Response
How can communities receive the care they need during mental health crises without the stress or tension that police intervention often brings?
Canopy has partnered with local governments to develop, launch, and grow unarmed first responder teams specifically designed to provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive care to individuals experiencing a mental or behavioral crisis.
Data sources: Treatment Advocacy Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Alliance for Mental Health
Highlight: Minneapolis, MN
The Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) team offers a powerful alternative to traditional law enforcement response to mental health emergencies in Minneapolis, MN.
The mission of the BCR is simple yet impactful: to de-escalate non-violent crisis situations through compassionate, culturally informed care that respects each person’s unique needs. Our diverse team of certified mental health first responders bring specialized, trauma informed expertise to every call, ensuring that support is given with empathy and understanding.
We’ve proudly served as the Behavioral Crisis Response team for the City of Minneapolis since 2021. The BCR is available to respond to 911 mental health emergencies citywide, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our Impact
In Action
Since launching in December 2021, our Minneapolis BCR team has responded to over 11,000 crisis calls per year via 911, providing care and stability to individuals in need.
View this dashboard to see incidents in Minneapolis that were reported to 911 from the public.
In one instance, the BCR team supported a woman who hadn’t eaten or taken her medication for days. The BCR team stabilized her and connected her to her social worker, offering critical care and a path forward.
With every call we are committed to delivering safe, unarmed support around the clock.
brooklyn center, MN
We’re thrilled to announce an expansion of our services to the suburb of Brooklyn Center, extending the reach of our unarmed response model to other Minneapolis Metro-area communities in need.
In a statewide first for Minnesota, the City of Brooklyn Center is operating dual pilot programs with one team operated by Canopy Roots and another by Hennepin County & North Memorial. Both teams are dispatched by 911 and resolve low-level, non urgent behavioral crisis situations.
Our unarmed first responder team is composed of two mental health clinicians and operates during evening and weekend hours.
COMing soon: Twin Cities Metro Transit
Canopy Roots is proud to partner with Twin Cities Metro Transit to launch the Community Response Team, a new unarmed response program scheduled to begin service in August 2026.
Building on Canopy’s experience delivering trauma-informed, culturally responsive crisis response, the CRT will support transit riders experiencing a behavioral crisis with care, compassion, and connection to resources.
JOin Us IN THIS WORK
Our impact expands with every partnership, grounded in community support. Visit our Partnerships page to see how you can join us in building safe and empathetic crisis response.