More mental health crisis teams to respond to 911 calls on Chicago's West Side

CHICAGO - Chicago has announced the expansion of its alternative 9-1-1 response program on the West Side.

Starting this spring and summer, more mental health crisis teams will be deployed to respond to 9-1-1 calls that have a mental health or substance abuse component.

Those teams will initially focus on Humboldt Park and East and West Garfield Park.

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Those are the neighborhoods with the highest number of opioid related 9-1-1 calls, according to city data.

The program is expected to expand to other neighborhoods throughout the year.