The Chandler Fire Department's Crisis Response Team, or CR288, is a dedicated team of highly trained volunteers and staff members who assist persons with practical and emotional needs following traumatic events. By providing valuable social services, this unit enables Fire and Police personnel to more quickly return to their normal operational duties.

CR288 is dispatched in conjunction with Fire and/or Police emergency units to provide crisis intervention, support and referral services. The volunteers and Crisis Intervention Specialists partner with Chandler's Public Safety personnel to help ensure fast and thorough resolution in a variety of situations.

On the crisis scene, the two-person CR288 team is able to fully focus on the emotional and social needs of the family and/or individual in crisis while the Police and Fire personnel attend to law enforcement, medical emergency, and fire suppression needs.

CR288 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some of the call types the unit may be dispatched to include:

• Adult, child, and infant deaths
• Pediatric emergencies
• Drownings
• Serious medical emergencies
• Sexual assaults
• Structure fires
• Violent crimes
• Domestic violence
• Psychiatric emergencies
• Assist homeless
• Death notifications
• Traffic accidents
• Suicide completions, attempts, ideations
• Child or elder abuse, neglect, exploitation
• As requested by Chandler Fire and Police units

Each two person team is comprised of Crisis Intervention Specialists (MSW or other behavioral health degree), student interns, and/or highly trained volunteers.

The roles of the CR288 team are to:

• Provide crisis intervention and victim assistance.
• Provide emotional support & information and referrals to clients.
• Bridge the communication between clients, fire and police departments.    

CR288 TRAINING:

All volunteers/interns are required to:

• Attend the 36-hour Regional Crisis Interventionist Academy.
• Complete 24 hours of observation rides and an additional 24 hours of practical rides.
• Complete Chandler Fire Department specific training.
• Attend quarterly unit meetings for continuing education.

VOLUNTEERS:

To become involved in CR288 team:

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must be able to volunteer 16 hours a month.
• Student Interns - Volunteer requirements vary by school. (MSW students - 80 hours of service a month.)

SELECTION PROCESS:

To volunteer, download an application here. Please fill out and mail, fax, or email the application to the Citizen Support Coordinator (contact information on application).

• Complete application and return to CFD.
• Complete interview.
• Complete background check & fingerprint clearance.
• Complete all training requirements.

For more information on the Chandler Crisis Response Team, call 480-782-2120.