Citizen Assist Program

 

The Citizen Assist Program (C.A.P.), works by obtaining referrals for clients who access the emergency response system for non-emergency medical, mental health and social service needs. These referrals are made by emergency responders who feel a client requires further assistance.

Once a referral is made, a C.A.P. member schedules an initial home assessment with the client; then draws from a resource pool of over 150 medical and community agencies in order to be sure appropriate connections are made. Throughout this process C.A.P. remains in contact with the client, while working as their advocate within the system.

The misuse of the emergency response system costs approximately $750 - $1,000 per event, and many such events progress to become multiple episodes. Non-emergent situations also contribute rapidly to overcrowding in hospital emergency departments, which may compromise and delay care for true emergencies.

Often emergency responders are unable to help because the resident’s needs exceeds the scope of their position. Contacting C.A.P. allows them the opportunity to get the resident the assistance they need.

C.A.P. relies on active participation by emergency responders in order to fulfill its mission. For each call, whether emergency or non-emergency, responders are urged to “THINK C.A.P.” by evaluating whether or not the resident’s situation needs further attention. Then it is as simple as making a phone call.

C.A.P. is a program of United Way of Greater Kansas City, in partnership with many local emergency assistance programs. It is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and other local funding partners.