Peace and Justice Program

CAHOOTS stands for Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets and is a mental-health crisis intervention program that has been operating in Eugene Oregon since 1989. CAHOOTS works by diverting 911 calls related to addiction, disorientation, mental health crises, and homelessness—but which don’t pose a danger to others—to their mental-health professionals rather than police officers. This has reduced police violence to this vulnerable population and has directly connected them to the services and support they need. In 2021, Oregon passed House Bill 2417 which provides funding to recreate the CAHOOTS model statewide. Rachel Mann was the sole lobbyist working to get this bill passed and was successful. She will be educating us on the bill itself, the journey to get it passed, and where we are going from here.