The city of Winston-Salem is looking for more ways to curb violence and better serve the community.
Wednesday, Forsyth County sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Junior addressed mental health in a community forum.
The city is also upping mental health resources by implementing a mental health first responder team. It's called the Behavioral Evaluation and Response Team or BEAR team.
The team of seven will be stationed at fire departments around the city.
If someone calls 911 for a mental health or substance use-related crisis, someone from the BEAR team will show up as a first responder.
Advocates hope the team will help reduce instances of citation, arrest, use of force, and incarceration.
The program is funded by $700,000 in American Rescue plan act funding.
The Team should be ready to respond to calls by April.