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Phoenix crisis response teams respond to 60% more calls after hiring dozens

Phoenix officials said in February that they had plenty of money, but not enough staff for a program to help people struggling with mental health, addiction and homelessness.

On Wednesday, the administrator of the Community Assistance Program reported to the public safety subcommittee that 48 caseworkers have since been hired and trained.

D.C. Ernst said new staff has grown the number of behavioral health and crisis response teams responding to calls. 

“When we upped our units in July, our numbers increased significantly,” Ernst said.

City data show a 60% increase from June in the number of calls responded to by the Community Assistance Program.

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Matthew Casey has won Public Media Journalists Association and Edward R. Murrow awards since he joined KJZZ as a senior field correspondent in 2015.