05 Dec 24/7 Crisis Call Center Will Help County A3 Program Live Up to Its Name

Taun Hall spoke during the 2021 unveiling of Contra Costa’s A3 (Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime) crisis response team. People experiencing or witnessing a behavioral health struggle can now get 24/7 support from the Miles Hall Crisis Call Center, named for her late son. (Screenshot captured by Grace Galletti / RP file)

By Malcolm Marshall

Contra Costa residents facing a behavioral health, mental health or substance use crisis can now get support 24 hours a day through Contra Costa Health’s A3 (anyone, anytime, anywhere) program. As of Dec. 1, those in need can call the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center at (844) 844-5544 to speak with a trained professional and, if needed, have an in-person team dispatched to them.

The newly offered 24/7 care provides timely and appropriate behavioral health crisis services to anyone, anywhere, at anytime in the county.

“Behavioral health crisis care is more accessible than ever before in Contra Costa County, thanks to the vision and hard work of our A3 team and community partners, including people with lived experience, family members, advocates, community groups, law enforcement, cities, fire and emergency medical responders and behavioral health professionals,” said Contra Costa Health CEO Anna Roth in a press release.

Behavioral health issues are the third most common calls that ambulances respond to throughout the county. The Crisis Call Center provides over the phone assistance as well as connections to follow-up care.

“Having round-the-clock mental health services available throughout Contra Costa has been a long-time need, and we are proud that we can now provide these vital services at any time,” said Supervisor John Gioia, chair of the Board of Supervisors, in the release.

The A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center is named in honor of Miles Hall, a 23-year-old who was killed by police in Walnut Creek while he was while suffering a severe mental health incident in 2019.

Started as a pilot project in 2021, A3 responds to about 200 calls and dispatches 30 mobile teams weekly. Nearly 3,000 callers were helped in 2022, and the number expected to be higher this year.

“Being able to not call 911 and instead call this crisis hub is critical,” said Roxanne Carrillo Garza, senior director with Healthy Contra Costa.

Carrillo Garza said that part of the advocacy that came out of Hall’s death was done so that instead of police responding to incidents like Hall’s, mental health and peer support folks would show up on the scene to help.

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“This is a step in the right direction, for sure,” she said. “There needs to be greater access to mental services overall. Young people and people of all ages don’t have enough access throughout the county. But this is a good thing, absolutely.”

The cities of Antioch, Richmond and San Ramon all have mobile crisis centers, and Carrillo Garza envisions further local efforts to augment the county-run initiative.

“Eventually, there will be a network of these crisis centers,” she said.

The A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center is funded through Measure X sales tax revenue.

To learn more visit cchealth.org/a3.

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