Dallas Expands RIGHT Care to Help Minors in Mental Health Crises
Dallas has expanded its RIGHT Care program to support minors facing mental health crises. The six-month pilot, launched earlier this year, now sends specialised teams to 911 calls involving children and teens. Officials will assess the results before deciding whether to extend the service further. The RIGHT Care initiative began in 2018, offering an alternative response to mental health emergencies. Teams include a paramedic, a social worker, and a police officer. Their role is to stabilise patients on-site and link them to community support instead of jails or hospitals.
Since the pilot’s launch, two teams have operated daily between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. In the first six weeks alone, they handled 63 calls. Of these, 59 cases were diverted from arrest, while many others avoided hospital admission.
When a call comes in, the officer first secures the scene. The paramedic and clinician then assess the situation. The clinician determines the next steps, whether that means referring the child to a behavioural health clinic or addressing wider family needs. The program’s broader aim is to provide mental health care for young people while also supporting their families. The city will review the pilot’s impact before making any long-term decisions. If successful, the service could grow to cover more areas or extend operating hours. For now, the focus remains on improving mental health responses for minors in Dallas.
