About the Program
STAR is a Denver alternative to police response
When DASHR was founded, we had the explicit goal to create a Denver version of a program in Eugene, Oregon called CAHOOTS. That program, launched on June 1, 2020, became the STAR program, otherwise known as Support Team Assisted Response. The program pairs a medic with a clinician to respond to low-level 911 instead of law enforcement. STAR was initially a 12 month pilot that has since expanded.
DASHR’s role has evolved over time, starting as one of the driving forces to envision and create STAR, to participating in workgroup to design and launch the pilot, to being the community facilitator of the pilot period, to now where DASHR is represented on the STAR Community Advisory Committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
DOES STAR INVOLVE THE POLICE?
Although STAR was initially a pilot program that lived with the Denver Police Department (DPD), the program has since been moved to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE). Police do not accomanyh the STAR van, however police can call STAR to respond to a situation they’ve been called to answer if the call doesn’t necessitate law enforcement. There have been community concerns that police are sometimes responding to STAR calls and in some cases, showing up alongside STAR, which are issues we continue to work to address.
HOW IS STAR FUNDED?
STAR was initially funded with a $200,000 grant from the Caring for Denver Foundation in 2020. For 2021, STAR was given $1.395M from the general operating budget with matching funds from the Caring for Denver Foundation. In 2022, the program received an additional $1M, making the program budget roughly $4M.
Of the funding, $1.7M is directed to the responders and vans, which are contracted through Wellpower and Denver Health. The other $2.3M is dedicated to wrap-around services, which hasn’t been contracted yet.
HOW DO I REACH STAR?
People in Denver can reach STAR by calling 911. They can also reach STAR by calling 720.913.7827 (STAR), but that number also directs folks to the 911 dispatch center, it simply flags the call as a STAR call.
WHAT IS DASHR’S ROLE?
DASHR was founded in 2018 with the goal to create what has since become the STAR program. The organization was the main community driver to envision and demand the program, and plans started in the community first to build the program without city involvement. DASHR was represented in Denver delegation in 2019 when folks travelled to Eugene, Oregon to learn about CAHOOTS, and since then, has collaborated in good faith efforts with the city of Denver to design, create, and now expand STAR.