CAHOOTS or Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets, provides mobile crisis intervention 24/7 in the Eugene-Springfield Metro area. Each team consists of a medic (either a nurse or an Emergency Medical Technician EMT) and a crisis worker with at least several years’ experience in the mental health field. CAHOOTS provides immediate stabilization in case of urgent medical need or psychological crisis, assessment, information, referral, advocacy & (in some cases) transportation to the next step in treatment. CAHOOTS is an innovative program that is being replicated in many cities including Portland, Oregon. Karen James speaks with Brenton Gicker, a registered nurse and EMT, who has worked for CAHOOTS since 2008.
- KBOO