Care-Based Approaches for Responding to Emergencies: How Unarmed Non-Police Programs Address Inequities

Abstract

The American Public Health Association has identified police violence as a major public health concern and driver of inequities. Unarmed non-police response (UNPR) programs have emerged as significant interventions to promote community well-being and safety. The research presented in this article sheds light on how these programs impact community health, focusing on operational efficacy and the breadth of health benefits they offer communities. We conducted 11 semi-structured interviews with UNPR staff from six different programs across the country to examine the impact of programs on community health. Our findings reveal that UNPR programs serve as critical hubs for community safety, including chronic disease management, infectious disease prevention, violence reduction, and jail time reduction. We found that UNPR programs address health inequities through four key pathways: (a) referrals to health-promoting social services, (b) direct health care provision, (c) conflict de-escalation, and (d) reducing entry into the criminal legal system. Staffing these programs and building trust with communities are key to ensuring that historically marginalized communities, which often distrust police and experience poor health outcomes, view them as a valuable resource. Our findings provide important insights into the functioning and impact of UNPR programs, highlighting their value in promoting safety, public and community health, and equity, while also underscoring the importance of UNPR programs as health promotion interventions to build care and connection to community resources.