January 31, 2026 - The City of Los Angeles continues to expand its unarmed crisis response efforts by strengthening the behavioral health workforce necessary to sustain and scale these programs. On Saturday, in response to a directive from the Los Angeles City Council, LA Civil Rights hosted “Shaping the Future of Community Safety,” a virtual event promoting pathways to careers in behavioral health and unarmed response. We thank everyone who attended.
Presentations highlighted the roles of service providers, first responders, and licensed clinicians making an impact in the City’s Crisis and Incident Response through Community-led Engagement (CIRCLE) program and its Unarmed Model of Crisis Response (UMCR). Panelists followed with recommendations to better connect students and job seekers to training and opportunities in this emerging field. Panelists also explored academia’s role in preparing a compassionate workforce, which includes community workers, social workers, therapists, and emergency medical technicians, dedicated to supporting vulnerable Angelenos in need of trauma-informed care.
We are especially grateful to Deputy Mayor Karren Lane, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, Commissioner Kandee Lewis of Positive Results Center, and our esteemed speakers from Alcott Center, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Community College District, Exodus Recovery, Inc., the Office of the City Administrative Officer, Penny Lane Centers, Public Works Alliance, and University of California, Los Angeles. Their voices brought clarity about the region's growing behavioral health and crisis response career fields through the lens of city programming.
To stay informed on these issues, please subscribe to the LA City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services here. For questions on City programs, please e-mail: mayor.circle@lacity.org or unarmed.crisis.response@lacity.org.