CONTACT US
Email: CommunitySafety@TucsonAZ.gov
Phone:
The Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program (CSHW), centers on meeting the needs of Tucsonans with the right work in the right hands. With awareness that our community is safest when we have the tools to reduce and prevent crises, we are working to ensure that the City of Tucson has the appropriate responses to prevent crises related to substance use, mental illness, and extreme poverty.
The program functions as an umbrella for coordination with pre-existing teams under multiple city departments. These teams specialize in meeting the needs of the community members experiencing behavioral health crises and houselessness and include:
- Housing First (Housing and Community Development)
- Mental Health Support Team (Tucson Police Department)
- TC3 - Tucson Collaborative Community Care (Tucson Fire Department & TMC)
- Community Outreach and Resource Engagement Units (Tucson Police Department)
With the inception of the program two additional teams are being activated:
- Care Coordinators (CSHW)
The Care Coordinators work with individuals identified through the 9-1-1 call center, Code Enforcement Division, Housing First Program, Mental Health Support Team, and Ward offices. The team takes a person-centered approach to support Tucsonans to reach their goals and successfully navigate other social services available in Tucson. Services that Care Coordinators help community members navigate include:- Food security
- Public benefits enrollments
- Utility assistance
- SSI / SSDI / Social Security
- Medical care
- Behavioral health care and wellness supports
- Addiction/substance use/ recovery care
- Financial wellness and income analysis (addressing medical and other debt)
- Social supports and community connectivity
- Head Start and childcare
- Workforce development / vocational training / job application support
- Housing stability supports - longterm care, home repairs, ADA accommodations
- Youth support
- Referral to coordinated entry for emergency shelter
- Accompaniment and advocacy as needed.
- Community Outreach & Violence Interruption Team (CSHW)
The Community Outreach & Violence Interruption Team works long-term in areas of the city where historic disinvestment and resultant poverty have produced higher rates of gun violence. CSHW Outreach workers, supported by CSHW Care Coordinators, promote leadership development, reinvestment, and the interruption of crisis and violence in the City of Tucson.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program works with a large variety or resource partners in Tucson. Some of our partners include:
• Arizona Department of Economic Security
• CODAC
• Community Bridges Incorporated
• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
• Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona (CHRPA)
• El Rio Health
• Homicide Survivors, Inc.
• Interfaith Community Services
• La Frontera
• OPCS
• Pima Council on Aging (PCOA)
• Pima County Community and Workforce Development Department
• Pima County Health Department
• PSMA
• St. Vincent de Paul of Southern Arizona
• Sugarhill Coalition
• Tucson Pima Collaboration to end Homelessness (TPCH)
• YWCA
YOUR TEAM
Sarah Launius, Program Director
City Manager's Office
Sarah.Launius@tucsonaz.gov
Sarah Launius serves as the Director of the Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program for the City of Tucson. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moving frequently as a military kid, Sarah has called Tucson home since 2006. Prior to joining the City of Tucson, Sarah worked and volunteered with several service and advocacy agencies focused on equitable access to quality education, immigrant rights, environmental stewardship, and collective quality of life advocacy. Sarah has a PhD from the School of Geography, Development, and the Environment at the University of Arizona.
Lee Hopkins, Resource Manager
Community Safety, Health & Wellness
Lee.Hopkins@tucsonaz.gov
Lee Hopkins is the Resource Manager of the Care Coordination program within the Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program. She supervises the Care Coordinators and brings in resources for the program and its participants. Lee moved to Tucson in 2021 from Virginia. Work and family moved her around the East Coast, Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa throughout her life. Prior to joining the City of Tucson, Lee worked with non-profits in the U.S. and abroad to provide social work and public health services to refugees, advocate for immigrant rights and healthcare access, and invest in youth leadership and affordable housing. Lee has an MSW, specializing in management from Columbia School of Social Work and is licensed in Arizona.
Ricky Romero, Care Coordinator
Community Safety, Health & Wellness
Ricky.Romero@tucsonaz.gov
Ricky Romero serves as a Care Coordinator of the Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program for the City of Tucson. As a native Tucsonan, Ricky is motivated to support his neighbors to achieve their goals. Prior to joining the City of Tucson, Ricky worked in the behavioral health field for over 20 years. Starting his work with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system, he has a deep appreciation for the importance of positive community and familial dynamics to help young Tucsonans thrive. Most recently, Ricky has worked extensively with adults living with addictions and the unique needs of older adults. In his personal time Ricky stays busy with family and his church community.
Noah Gariepy, Care Coordinator
Community Safety, Health & Wellness
Noah.Gariepy@tucsonaz.gov
Noah Gariepy serves as a Care Coordinator for the Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program for the City of Tucson. While born and raised here, Noah’s love of Tucson was concreted after moving away and later returning. He and his partner along with their three dogs enjoy experiencing the local food, art, and culture. Noah has over ten years of work and volunteer experience working with marginalized communities. His experience includes working with developmental/intellectual disabilities, mental health, LGBTQ, housing instability, and more. Prior to joining the City of Tucson, Noah oversaw multiple grants relating to youth homelessness. Noah has also worked in group homes, day programs, behavioral health lock-down facilities, and more as both a staff and manager. Noah has a Bachelors from Arizona State University in Interdisciplinary Studies and is currently working towards his Masters of Social Work at Widener University.
Kristin Woodall, Care Coordinator
Community Safety, Health & Wellness
Kristin.Woodall@tucsonaz.gov
Kristin Woodall serves as a Care Coordinator for the Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program for the City of Tucson.Kristin was raised in Flagstaff, AZ.
Daniel Reyes, Care Coordinator
Community Safety, Health & Wellness
Daniel.Reyes@tucsonaz.gov
Daniel Reyes serves as Care Coordinator for the Community Safety, Health & Wellness Program for the City of Tucson. Originally from Mexico, Daniel has called Tucson home since 1998. Joining the City of Tucson in 1999, Daniel has worked with different community centers, schools and social programs throughout Tucson and advocacy agencies focused on immigrant rights. Daniel is fluent in Spanish and a National and Arizona State Certified Emergency Medical Technician.
Susan Cota, Care Coordinator
Community Safety, Health & Wellness
Susan.Cota@tucsonaz.gov
Susan Cota serves as a Care Coordinator for the Community Safety, Health and Wellness Program for the City of Tucson. She is a proud native Tucsonan, a Latina, a child of immigrants to the U.S., and mother of three. Susan enjoys hiking Sabino Canyon's beautiful trails and has picked up boxing as one of her hobbies. Prior to joining the City of Tucson, Susan worked for the Regional Behavioral Health Authority. Serving as the Tribal Clinical Service Coordinator for American Indian members of Sothern Arizona, Susan was responsible for identifying social determinates of health and gaps in care to members with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) and substance abuse. Susan prides herself in her past collaboration with Medicaid, and stakeholders, to increase communication and improve health outcomes for members. Her passion is to support diversity, equity, and inclusion by providing advocacy to an underserved population and promoting healthier lives. Susan holds a bachelor's in psychology with the University of Phoenix.
WHY WAS THE PROGRAM CREATED?
The Community Safety Pilot Program was created in September 2020 by Tucson’s Mayor and Council. The Community Safety Pilot Program created a community safety continuum across City departments and non-profit partners that is grounded in the needs and vision of community safety identified through community engagement.
In April 2021, the program became permanent. At that time, various forums and surveys were launched to expand community voice in the program design, and the Program Director was hired in January 2022. The program is housed in the City Manager’s office and aims to:
- Provide a civilian response to non-emergency calls coming into our 9-1-1 call center related to mental health, substance use or homelessness, and;
- Coordinate across city departments, non-profit and community-led organizations to prevent crises related to mental health, substance use or extreme poverty, and to advance racial equity.
METRICS
From August-November, 2022, the Community Safety, Health & Wellness Care Coordinators have:
- Followed up with 352 individuals referred to us by our 911 call center, Mayor & Council offices, Housing First Program and Mental Health Support Team.
- Successfully connected with 237 of those individuals and referred those with needs to appropriate services, including ongoing service navigation with a Care Coordinator.
- 29 of those individuals and their families who were homeless or at risk of eviction were supported to become or stay housed.
- Conducted 15 outreach efforts in lieu of, or in coordination with Tucson Police Department, and engaged approximately 300 individuals to connect them to services, housing, and detox.
RESOURCES