Evanston's Crisis Responder Team began operations Monday, Sept. 14, with full deployment expected by Nov. 2, according to City Manager Luke Stowe's weekly report.

The team represents the city's expanding effort to send non-police responders to mental health emergencies. City Council allocated $400,000 for the first phase of the Crisis Alternative Response Evanston (CARE) program in February 2024, the Chicago Tribune reported. The program reroutes 911 calls deemed eligible to dispatchers trained in mental health and behavioral response.

As of June 2026, the CARE team's four members had responded to more than 3,500 calls in less than two years, according to Patch. The team draws from the fields of social work and victims' services; one member is a former Chicago Public Schools teacher.

At the Sept. 14 City Council meeting, Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma, 4th Ward, praised the team's relationship with the Evanston Police Department. "I want to particularly call attention to the CARE team and the very collaborative relationship that exists between that unit and your department," Nieuwsma said, according to the Tribune.

Nieuwsma also credited police cooperation, saying the CARE team would be unable to succeed without the support it has received from the department.

Police Chief Schenita Stewart told council members at the same meeting that all types of major crime in Evanston fell more than 13% over the 12-month period from July 2025 to June 2026. Stewart said the statistics help the department understand what is happening in the community and where to focus resources.