Harris County Public Health- Home Page About Divisions Community Health and Violence Prevention Services Holistic Assistance Response Teams

Holistic Assistance Response Team

The Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) is a Harris County program created to dispatch 911 directly and other calls to interdisciplinary unarmed, first responder teams, trained in behavioral health and on-scene medical assistance. The HART program aims to improve community health and safety by quickly providing the appropriate response to community members experiencing homelessness, behavioral health issues, or non-emergency health or social welfare concerns, and to reduce unnecessary law enforcement or hospital-based interventions for non-emergent 911 calls.

HART launched on March 21, 2022, and as of September 2025, the HART Model operates in all HCSO districts. HART provides coverage 7 days a week from 7 A.M. - 11 P.M. Since its launch, HART has responded to more than 25,000 calls through the end of 2025. 

How to Access HART

HART teams are dispatched through the Harris County Sheriff's Office Emergency Dispatch Center; residents can call 911 or the non-emergency line (713) 221-6000. Community members are also able to call the HART Dedicated Phone Line (713-274-HART), which operates Monday-Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The HART phone line provides case management services to all community members who live in unincorporated Harris County, or anywhere that the Harris County Sheriff's Office serves. Community members are encouraged to leave a voicemail if calls are made outside of normal business hours and can expect a follow-up phone call from a HART case manager within 24 business hours.

Requests for HART field responders may also be made through the HART Dedicated Phone Line. Callers will be asked a brief set of screening questions to help ensure the safety of responders. At this time, HART provides on-scene response only in unincorporated Harris County.

If a call does not meet screening requirements, community members will be directed to the HCSO Non-Emergency line or to 911. If a call does meet screening requirements, a HART supervisor will review the information to determine whether an in-field response is appropriate.

Contact Information

For case management assistance, call 713-274- HART

For additional information or questions, email [email protected]

Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) Program

frequently asked questions

A. The Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) will launch in some areas of Cypress Station, in unincorporated Harris County. This is a new model for responding to non-violent 911 calls.

  • Not all 911 calls require a deputy or police officer. If someone calls 911 regarding a homeless person, or with an urgent mental health issue, law enforcement may not be needed.
  • When this program launched, Sheriff’s Department Dispatchers now have a new option for responding to non-violent, 911 calls in parts of Cypress Station.
  • Dispatchers will determine which incidents are appropriate to send a HART unit to.
  • These are teams of trained social workers, behavioral health, and medical professionals.  They are not armed and will be in uniforms and vehicles identifying them as HART.
  • Their training allows them to effectively assist someone in distress and connect them to the appropriate resources for help.
  • If people get help with housing, mental or physical health issues, they may not repeat the behavior that resulted in a 911 call.
  • HART provides resources that are complimentary to law enforcement and frees up law enforcement officers to focus on violent crime.
  • These resources are provided by (HCPH) and don’t require law enforcement funding.
  • The HART program is administered by HCPH’s Community Health and Violence Prevention Services Division.

A. HART is an alternative 911 response model in Harris County that diverts non-violent 911 calls to unarmed, first responder teams, trained in behavioral health and on-scene medical assistance. Each team is made up of 2 field responders: a Crisis Intervention Specialist and a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. HART operates in all districts of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. 

  • Not all 911 calls require a deputy or police officer. For situations involving homelessness, mental health crises, or other non-violent concerns, law enforcement may not be the most appropriate response.
  • HCSO 911 dispatchers determine if a call is HART eligible.
  • Each HART team includes a Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) and a licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Teams are unarmed, wear uniforms, and drive vehicles that clearly identify them as HART.
  • HART team members receive specialized training that enables them to safely assist people in distress and connect them to appropriate community resources
  • If people get help with housing, mental or physical health issues, they may not repeat the behavior that results in frequent 911 calls.
  • HART complements law enforcement by addressing non-violent calls, allowing deputies to focus on violent crime and other public safety priorities.
  • HART services are provided by Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and do not require law enforcement funding.
  • HART is administered by HCPH’s Community Health and Violence Prevention Services (CHVPS) Division. 

A. HART is the 4th branch of the first responder system. HART can respond to situations regarding housing and homelessness, social welfare, mental substance, substance use disorder, school truancy, family disturbance/conflict, and more.

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