When someone is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, substance use crisis, or other complex emergency, the right response can make all the difference. In Salem, Oregon, a new pilot program is helping connect people with care in a more focused, compassionate, and community-minded way.
Launched in January 2026, the Rapid Engagement, Assessment & Community Health Team—better known as REACH—is a partnership between the City of Salem, the Salem Fire Department, and Marion County Health & Human Services. The program was created to respond to certain 911 calls where medical care, behavioral health support, and connection to local resources may be more appropriate than a traditional emergency response.
What Is the REACH Team?
The REACH Team is a response unit made up of a Salem Fire Department paramedic, an EMT-Basic, and a Marion County Qualified Mental Health Associate. Together, they bring both medical expertise and behavioral health support directly into the field.
This team is designed to meet people where they are, assess what kind of help is needed, and provide immediate support when possible. That support might include crisis stabilization, de-escalation, medical assessment, or a connection to community resources like shelter services, addiction treatment, mental health providers, or Marion County’s Behavioral Health Crisis Center.
A More Supportive Response for People in Crisis
At its core, REACH is about helping people receive the right care at the right time. For some calls, an ambulance ride or emergency room visit may not be the most effective long-term solution. By responding with a team trained in both emergency medical care and behavioral health support, REACH can help address the immediate crisis while also looking at what may be causing repeated emergency calls.
After responding in the moment, the goal is to help people take the next step toward stability.
Through this community-focused and relationship-based approach, the REACH Team is working to improve outcomes for individuals in crisis, reduce repeat 911 calls, and connect more residents with services that can support their health and safety over time. The program is also intended to help reduce the stress on Salem’s emergency response system by reserving more fire, EMS, and 911 resources for life-threatening emergencies.
Helping Salem’s Emergency System Work More Efficiently
The REACH pilot program also reflects a broader community effort to use emergency resources more effectively. Behavioral health and substance use-related calls can be complex, and they aren’t always fully resolved through a standard emergency response.
By offering a more specialized option, REACH aims to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits, ambulance transports, and hospital admissions when another form of care is more appropriate. In its first month of operation, the City of Salem reported 49 total contacts, 12 transports to alternative locations, 10 patients stabilized in place, and 45 community resource connections and referrals.
Those early numbers show how a focused response can help move people toward care while also easing pressure on Salem’s emergency response system.
A Pilot Program Built to Grow and Adapt
REACH is currently a six-month pilot program, which means the City of Salem and Marion County are closely tracking how it performs. Key measures include repeat 911 calls, successful connections to stabilizing services, and the program’s overall impact on emergency response resources.
As the pilot continues, the program may evolve based on what the data shows and what the community needs. Future adjustments could include expanded hours, refined dispatch criteria, stronger partnerships with local providers, or additional follow-up support.
For Salem residents, REACH represents an important step toward a response system that recognizes people in crisis often need care, connection, and a path forward.
Salem is a stronger community when vulnerable neighbors are met with support, dignity, and practical help. Through REACH, local leaders are working together to build a response model that protects emergency resources while helping people access the care they need.