A new podcast series by Tradeoffs and The Marshall Project gives an inside look at Durham’s HEART program.
HEART, which stands for Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams, offers alternatives to sending law enforcement to help people experiencing mental health crises or other quality-of-life concerns. It provides services within the Durham city limits seven days a week for 12 hours each day.
The podcast, titled “The Fifth Branch,” explores the origins of the HEART program, personal stories and data about its effectiveness.
The first two episodes of the podcast are available now, with a third launching Aug. 1.
Tradeoffs and The Marshall Project will host a virtual discussion about the main findings from the series on Aug. 15. Registration is available online.
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