Canopy Roots BCR Evaluation

The final report is here.

The Evaluation at a Glance

In the heart of Minneapolis, a groundbreaking approach to mental health crisis response is unfolding. Canopy Roots, a Black-owned and women-led organization, contracted by the City of Minneapolis, has launched a Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) program – an unarmed first response team of mental health professionals, dispatched through answering 911 calls citywide, 24/7. This innovative model represents a paradigm shift in addressing mental health emergencies, prioritizing civilian-led, trauma-informed, culturally affirming care.

But how effective is this approach? What impacts matter most to the community? Can it be scaled to serve more communities? These are the questions at the core of a pivotal evaluation project led by the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) in partnership with Canopy Roots.

Background

The Evaluation

Throughout this process, the voices of those most directly affected by the BCR program have been at the forefront - crisis responders themselves, Canopy leadership, other ecosystem actors who work with them (e.g. other first responders) and recipients of service. Through secondary data analysis of organizational data alongside primary data collection with surveys, focus groups, and interviews, the evaluation captures the perspectives of community members who have interacted with BCR, as well as the experiences of the crisis responders themselves and the first responder ecosystem in Minneapolis.

The potential impact of this evaluation extends far beyond Minneapolis. As communities across the nation grapple with how best to respond to mental health crises, the insights gained from the BCR evaluation could inform a new approach – one that prioritizes community needs, compassion, and mental health expertise over traditional law enforcement responses.

After conducting field research, we shared our findings with the Canopy Roots team. Through interactive presentations, data walks, and intentional conversations, we created the space for staff and Behavioral Crisis Responders to digest our evaluation and understand our recommendations.