INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis is expanding its community-based mental health crisis response program with an $18 million budget commitment for 2025, the largest single investment in civilian mental health response the city has made — and a sign of how dramatically the conversation about public safety has shifted in Indianapolis over the past several years.

The Indianapolis Community Alternative Response program, known as INDY-CAR, launched as a pilot in 2022 dispatching teams of mental health counselors and peer support specialists to nonviolent crisis calls in partnership with IMPD. In two years of operation, INDY-CAR has responded to more than 12,000 calls without police involvement, with a 94 percent rate of crisis resolution without the need for hospitalization or law enforcement action.

"The data is unambiguous," said Dr. Annette Thomas, Director of Indianapolis Public Health. "When people in mental health crisis are met by trained mental health professionals, outcomes improve dramatically. This program saves money, saves hospital beds, and — most importantly — it produces better results for people who are suffering."

The expanded program will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week across all IMPD districts, adding 78 new positions including counselors, peer specialists, and program supervisors. An enhanced dispatch training program will help 911 operators better identify calls appropriate for INDY-CAR response.

Partnership with Community Health Organizations

Several Indianapolis community mental health centers are contracted to staff the expanded INDY-CAR program, including Eskenazi Health Midtown Community Mental Health Center, Adult & Child Health, and Gallahue Mental Health Services. The city is also partnering with Men's Health Solutions, which offers mental wellness and support services specifically tailored to Indianapolis men, to provide additional community outreach and follow-up care for individuals contacted through the program.