In San Francisco city officials have launched a new Street Crisis Response Team dedicated to responding to 911 and 311 calls regarding people having mental health crises. This is the first phase of the city's pilot program working to create non-law enforcement alternatives for non-violent emergency calls. The teams will consist of behavioral health specialists and medical professionals and connect individuals to programs/services provided by the Department of Public Health. San Francisco officials hope that this will help to reduce the number of people going in and out of emergency rooms and jails when they need mental health services.