Eureka Mental Health Crisis Team Expands to 7 Days

Eureka's Crisis Alternative Response program has expanded to seven-day-a-week operations starting in February 2026, tripling its staff since launching in January 2023.

CARE now deploys four mental health case managers, one mental health clinician, and an administrative technician from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The program started with two case managers working weekdays only.

CARE responds to mental health and substance use crises through two approaches: co-response with law enforcement when needed, or alternative response that sends only mental health professionals. The goal is to connect people in crisis with treatment rather than the criminal justice system.

The program coordinates with Eureka's Uplift program and Community Safety Engagement Team. A new partnership with Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services will integrate CARE into the county's 24-hour mobile crisis network, potentially extending services beyond current operating hours.

The seven-day expansion addresses a gap in crisis services during evenings and weekends, when many mental health facilities operate with reduced staff or close. Residents can now access specialized support throughout the week instead of relying on emergency rooms or police response.

Humboldt County's rural geography makes centralized crisis services impractical. CARE brings mobile response directly to people in crisis across Eureka.