The Nashville Fire Department’s Co-Response Program Responders Engaged and Committed to Helping (REACH) began full 24/7 staffing on December 1, 2025.
REACH launched in February of 2023 to address the burden of mental health emergencies place on both emergency departments and emergency medical services’ resources. REACH partners an NFD Paramedic with a Master’s-Level Mental Health Clinician from Mental Health Cooperative to respond to non-violent potentially psychiatric emergencies.
The Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) identifies calls for REACH to respond to, which leads to more effective responses to mental health emergencies and reduces the number of EMS resources responding to those emergencies.
The program also helps connect clients with the correct resources in a more direct way. In the past, these clients would either be transported to an emergency room for further care or be taken into custody.
The calls are resolved in the following ways:
- Cancelled
- Refused further care
- No patient was found
- Stay at home with care plans
- Transported to the ER by REACH
- Transported to the ER by NFD Medics
- Transported to Behavioral Health Services
- Transported to alternative destinations
- Transported by Metro Nashville Police to the ER
Prior to Monday, December 1, NFD assigned 4 people to REACH on a regular basis, and the rest of the shifts were covered by standard operations paramedics on their shifts.
Total responses per year:
- 2023: 859
- 2024: 1,156
- 2025: 2,129 (through Nov. 15th)
- Diverted from ERs: 67%
- Diverted from Medic units: 81%
The marked growth in responses shows the need for the increased services.
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