- County Supervisor Joe Simitian has spearheaded efforts to bring Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST) services to the West Valley so more residents have access to services.
- TRUST is a community-driven mobile mental health crisis response team composed of specially trained community residents who have first-hand experience with mental health challenges; crisis intervention specialists; and first aid provider/responders.
SAN JOSE – The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will be expanding the Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST) program to serve residents in the West Valley. Today, the Board approved the County staff’s report in response to County Supervisor Joe Simitian’s proposal to expand the program as part of the upcoming budget adoption process. In addition to the five West Valley cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga, this new unit could serve communities in the western portion of San Jose (Cambrian, Fruitdale, West San Jose, and Willow Glen) that are not served by the existing TRUST program.
“Our neighbors, our friends, our family members are in crisis and need help. We must do more to provide an urgent and appropriate response to those experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Simitian, Chair of the County’s Health and Hospital Committee, who proposed the TRUST expansion to the West Valley. “Folks need to feel safe when calling for help. TRUST, our County’s latest mobile response program, offers a new intervention option that provides in-person support at a time of crisis that does not involve law enforcement.”
TRUST is a community-driven mobile mental health crisis response team composed of specially trained community residents including those who have first-hand experience with mental health challenges; crisis intervention specialists; and first aid provider/responders. TRUST teams are different from other County-supported mental health crisis response teams, as they respond without involving law enforcement.
TRUST is designed to help residents who need assistance in resolving conflicts or stressful situations. If an individual or their loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, they can call 988, the new national suicide prevention lifeline for assistance. Information shared on the call will be assessed and evaluated by clinical staff from Pacific Clinics in real time to determine if the situation can be resolved through de-escalation over the phone, or if it is necessary to dispatch in-person help.
“Obviously, when the police are needed, we want them there. But we’ve got to be smarter and more adept about getting the right kind of help to the right place in the right set of circumstances,” said Simitian. “It’s not easy, but it can be done. And now we’ll have the teams and the tools to do it. Simply put, we’re working to ensure the right response in a moment of crisis.”
Santa Clara County already has three TRUST units providing this essential service in the North County, Gilroy, and East San Jose. But there are large areas that are not served by the program, including the West Valley cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga, as well as large portions of San Jose.
In November 2022, Santa Clara County, in partnership with Momentum for Health and Pacific Clinics, launched the Santa Clara County TRUST program. The program provides in-person crisis response services, including mental/medical health assessments, stabilization, and on-site resolution, and/or transportation to another place of service for stabilization. The teams use a specialized TRUST vehicle with a safe, calming, and therapeutic interior environment for transportation. The exterior was intentionally designed to ensure that it does not cause additional anxiety or stress for individuals who need on-site assistance. In December 2022, at Simitian’s urging, the Board of Supervisors instructed County Administration to look at TRUST expansion options.
“Many west county cities, including a large portion of San Jose are left without access to this valuable program, including the communities of Cambrian, Fruitdale, West San Jose, and Willow Glen,” said San Jose Councilmember Foley in her letter of support. “With emergency department visits for people in psychiatric crisis increasing, I applaud Supervisor Simitian for his leadership to expand our county’s ability to respond to mental health crises countywide,” she wrote.
Since Simitian’s expansion proposal was made last year, the Board of Supervisors has received letters of support from Asian American for Community Involvement, Alum Rock Counseling Center, Behavioral Contractors’ Association of Santa Clara County, Community Health Partnership, Momentum for Health, Pacific Clinics, and West Valley Community Services; also letters from San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei and Councilmember Pam Foley, and the mayors of the cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga.
Community members can call 988, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to access services. Calls coming from area codes 408, 669, and 650 within Santa Clara County will be directed to the County’s Suicide and Crisis Services Call Center. Residents without those area codes may access the County’s services by calling 1-800-704-0900 and pressing 1.