Support Team Assisted Response (STAR)
About Support Team Assisted Response (STAR)
Our goal is to send the right people to help with crises related to mental health, homelessness and more. Learn more about this program below.
What is STAR?
STAR provides person-centric mobile crisis response to community members who are experiencing problems related to mental health, depression, poverty, homelessness, and/or substance use issues.
How does it work?

Before the STAR program began, Denver's 911 system was limited to addressing 911 calls through traditional ways, like sending police. Calls for health and safety issues were routed one of two ways; either they went through the police or the health/hospital system. STAR created a third option.
When someone calls 911 for something like a mental health crisis, substance use issue or even something like homelessness or poverty, their call can now be routed to STAR. STAR sends a behavioral health professional and a paramedic to the person in distress.
When the STAR mobile unit arrives, the individual in crisis can be assured that the interaction is grounded in a harm reduction, trauma-informed philosophy. The team, dressed in street clothes, provides direct clinical de-escalation and community service connections, as well as on-demand resources such as water, food, clothing and basic living supports.
What does this mean for the community?
Ultimately, the success of STAR will be measured by resolving crises and connecting people to services. The Denver Police Department, with the support of 911 emergency services, has put a significant emphasis on creating alternatives to a traditional criminal justice approach.
To contact STAR directly for yourself or another person, please call 720-913-STAR (7827). STAR operates Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Find Us in the News
Denver's police alternative STAR program continues expansion
FOX31 | March 28, 2023
These First-Responder Superheroes Don’t Wear Capes or Even Uniforms
Oprah Daily | July 29, 2022
How 911 dispatchers decide between mental health vs. police response
FOX31 | July 27, 2022
Pilot Program Finds Removing Police from Some 911 Calls Reduced Crime
Campus Safety | June 14, 2022
Study: Denver’s STAR program reduced crime, costs
FOX31 | June 8, 2022
Thousands of calls later, Denver's acclaimed program that provides an alternative to police response is expanding
The Denver Post | February 20, 2022
'Word of Thanks' nonprofits highlighted by Next with Kyle Clark in 2020
9News | June 2, 2021
7 things to know about Denver STAR, a program to send mental health workers and medics to 911 calls
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | May 27, 2021
MANSFIELD: Cleveland Needs STAR
Cool Cleveland | March 12, 2021
6-Month Experiment Replacing Denver Police With Mental Health Teams Dubbed A Success
NPR | March 8, 2021
Denver’s STAR program successfully sent mental health professionals, not police, to hundreds of calls
Fox5 New York | February 24, 2021
Denver successfully sent mental health professionals, not police, to hundreds of calls
USA Today | February 6, 2021
If you don’t know where to begin getting mental health, substance use or emotional help for yourself or someone you know—start here. We provide confidential and immediate support, 24/7/365. If you are in crisis or need help dealing with one, you can:
- Call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) to speak to a trained professional.
- Text TALK to 38255
- Visit any Walk-In Center. The nearest one to WellPower services is located at 4353 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80220