The Specialized First Responder Crisis Teams Project exists in five phases for the purpose strengthening regional infrastructure in the mission to combat and navigate crises.

In Phase I and Year 1, there is a focus on conducting observations of existing crisis response units, which will assist in completing an Advanced First Responder Crisis Response curriculum with the goal of equipping first responders with better tools to navigate crises. This 40-hour course includes instruction on first responder culture, self-care practices, occupational grief & trauma, substance use, mental health & PTSD, digital self-care & cyber crisis response, cultural & religious awareness, Autistic & ADHD crisis response, and crisis response ecosystems.

In Phase II and Years 2-3 is the proposed introduction of a perinatal crisis response team study and pilot field implementation. This emerging model integrates behavioral health, perinatal health expertise, emergency response, and crisis intervention to improve coordinated responses to maternal and perinatal crises while strengthening collaboration between healthcare and public safety systems. Perinatal crisis could be perinatal mental health (perinatal depression, perinatal psychosis, perinatal PTSD, perinatal anxiety, etc.), pregnancy or infant loss (miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, and fetal death diagnosis), or other maternal emergencies, inclusive of perinatal trauma events, such as perinatal intimate partner violence.

In Phase III and Years 4-6 of the project, there will be a focus on the tactical Cyber Defense Team model development and implementation. This team will consist of local law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, 911 dispatchers, and cybersecurity professionals trained to provide first responder services during the event of a mass cyber-attack or during high-risk regional crises as a result of cyber-attacks and disasters arising from cyber events.

Phase IV and Years 7-8 of the project would pivot to a focus on the development and implementation of the Death Crisis Response Team model. Death Crisis Response Teams are designed to strengthen multidisciplinary responses following sudden, traumatic, or complex deaths particularly in reference to suicides, homicides, overdose deaths, or pregnancy and infant loss.

Ultimately, this specialized crisis response team will be developed for regional purposes but also designed to work alongside mass fatality response teams like the federal DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) and the GBI’s GBRT (Georgia Body Recovery Team) when applicable.

And finally, Phase V and Year 9 would focus on the integration of all established specialized Crisis Response teams and refining how they may work together in regions. With field-based exercises, assessments, and additional departmental protocol implementation and modifications, subsequent years may seek the ability to see the work replicated in other regions and states.