Title
Resolution to Approve Unarmed Response Program through Supportive Connections and Approve the Addition of 4.0 Full Time Equivalent Positions (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Unarmed response is a community-based crisis intervention model in which non-sworn, unarmed clinicians respond to non-emergency, low-risk calls and engage individuals directly in the field for services that do not require a police presence. In addition to responding to calls, unarmed response teams are proactively present in the community, building relationships, identifying individuals who may benefit from support, and connecting residents to stabilizing services before a crisis occurs. This approach prioritizes de-escalation, stabilization, and connection to services, ensuring individuals receive timely support from trained behavioral-health professionals rather than law enforcement when a clinical or social-service response is more appropriate.
To determine how an unarmed response model could be effectively implemented in Ann Arbor, the City Administrator convened a team to evaluate national best practices. This work included visiting multiple unarmed response programs, observing operations on site, and reviewing different staffing, dispatch, and service-delivery structures used in other communities. The Chief of Police also completed a ride-along with the co-response teams which included the Washtenaw County Co-Response Unit (CRU), providing additional insight into best practices that comport with local operations and service in the field.
Through this evaluation process, the City refined its approach to reinforce a fully unarmed, civilian-led model, separate from law enforcement. The City recognizes that broader societal impacts and historical harms influence how individuals experience and engage with public safety systems, and that law enforcement may not always be the most appropriate responder for certain calls where stabilization, support, or service connection are the primary needs. This restructuring strengthens the City’s commitment to care and ensures residents receive the right level of support without requiring a police response for non-emergency, low-risk situations.
The Unarmed Response program, titled SPROUT (Supportive Resources and Outreach Team), will be managed by Supportive Connections and staffed by two teams of clinicians, for a total of four field-based clinicians. SPROUT will maintain both a responsive and proactive presence in the community, addressing call types such as unhoused concerns, welfare checks, victim support, repeat behavioral-health-related calls, and City protection order follow-up, while also engaging residents in the field who may benefit from services. In addition to responding to calls, SPROUT clinicians will conduct proactive outreach, build relationships, and strengthen connections across the community to support stability and prevent crises. Supportive Connections will also receive training in Critical Incident and Stress Management and will become certified to assist the community when needed.
When field-based clinicians identify a need for clinical intervention or continued behavioral-health support, they will coordinate directly with CMH to ensure timely engagement and service connection.
As this is a pilot structure, the City anticipates that operational adjustments may be necessary as the program begins and as real-time data, service patterns, and input from community partners are collected. These insights will guide refinements to enhance the level of service, strengthen impact, and ensure SPROUT continues to meet the needs of the community effectively.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funding for this program has been allocated through R-24-396 Resolution for County Millage Rebate Use (40/40/20) and was approved in the FY2027 budget; however, the positions to administer the program were not included in approved FY 2027 budget pending approval of the program.
Staff
Prepared by: Mariah Walton, Deputy City Administrator
Reviewed by: Jonathan Laye, Supportive Connections Director
Reviewed by: Jennifer Janetsky, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor is committed to promoting the health, safety, and well-being of all community members through equitable, trauma-informed, and evidence-based public services;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes behavioral health crises, substance use disorders, homelessness, and other social service needs are often more appropriately addressed by trained behavioral health professionals than through traditional law enforcement responses;
Whereas, National best practices have demonstrated that civilian-led crisis response programs improve outcomes for individuals in crisis by providing compassionate, clinically appropriate interventions while reducing unnecessary criminal justice involvement;
Whereas, Communities across the United States have successfully implemented civilian crisis response programs that connect residents with behavioral health, housing, medical care, and other supportive services while allowing law enforcement officers to remain available for criminal incidents and public safety emergencies;
Whereas, The City has developed an Unarmed Response program titled SPROUT (Supportive Resources and Outreach Team);
Whereas, SPROUT is being launched as a pilot structure, allowing the City to evaluate operational needs, community impact, and long-term sustainability as part of its crisis response framework;
Whereas, SPROUT will be staffed by two teams, each consisting of two clinicians for a total of four community-based clinicians, operating as non-sworn, unarmed responders, distinct from law enforcement;
Whereas, Supportive Connections will maintain an office structure consisting of four field-based clinicians (SPROUT), three caseworkers responsible for long-term service coordination, and a program director providing oversight, supervision, and operational coverage, ensuring a stable and accountable departmental framework;
Whereas, The City recognizes that, due to broader societal harms and historical experiences that shape community trust, law enforcement may not always be the most effective or appropriate responder for individuals seeking stabilization, support, or connection to services;
Whereas, SPROUT will operate independently from law enforcement agencies, allowing residents to access crucial services without requiring the presence of police, and will relieve law enforcement from calls when appropriate by responding to non-emergency, low-risk situations that can be safely and effectively handled by civilian clinicians;
Whereas, law enforcement involvement shall occur only when necessary to address immediate threats to public safety, active criminal conduct, violence, weapons, or other circumstances that exceed the scope of civilian crisis intervention;
Whereas, SPROUT will work collaboratively with the City’s co-response unit (A2 REACH), Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (CMH), and other community partners supporting crisis response and community safety, ensuring coordinated service delivery, shared problem-solving, and lawful information-sharing to support effective, efficient, person-centered outcomes and seamless access to services; and
Whereas, The SPROUT program will connect individuals to a broad range of social services that address key social determinants of health, including mental health, substance use support, transportation assistance, conflict-resolution resources, housing services, and other stabilizing interventions essential to long-term community wellness;
Whereas, SPROUT will respond to defined non-emergency, low-risk call types, including unhoused concerns, welfare checks, victim support, connection to services, repeat behavioral-health-related calls, and City protection order follow-up;
Whereas, SPROUT clinicians will provide on-scene support, resource navigation, and connections to appropriate service providers;
Whereas, SPROUT clinicians will conduct follow-up care to support continuity, stability, and long-term engagement, prioritizing connection to CMH teams when individuals require clinical intervention or ongoing behavioral health services;
Whereas, Data, service delivery patterns, and demonstrated impact will drive the structured hours of each team and their presence in the community, ensuring deployment aligns with need, maximizes access, and strengthens outcomes; and
Whereas, The SPROUT model strengthens Ann Arbor’s crisis response system by ensuring individuals receive the appropriate level of support in a timely manner, reducing reliance on armed law enforcement for non-emergency behavioral health needs and improving access to stabilizing services; and
Whereas, Funding for this program has been allocated through R-24-396 Resolution for County Millage Rebate Use (40/40/20);
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council hereby approves the Unarmed Response - SPROUT program, as outlined above;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator shall develop operational policies governing dispatch criteria, eligibility, risk assessment, coordination with emergency responders, documentation standards, quality assurance, workforce wellness, and community engagement;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to create four (4) permanent full-time employee (FTE) positions utilizing County Mental Health Millage Fund funds allocated through Resolution R-24-396 to establish the two (2) SPROUT units making the new authorized FTE total 898;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to take all necessary administrative actions to support implementation, integration, and ongoing management of SPROUT within the City’s crisis response framework; and
RESOLVED, That City Council affirms its commitment to expanding community-based crisis response options that promote safety, dignity, and equitable access to care for all residents.