How to Reach MACRO: Phone: (510) 44 MACRO | (510) 446-2276
In an effort to aid the dispatcher, callers should confirm that the situation is non-violent, non-emergent, no visible weapons and outside of a dwelling/residence or business.
Please do not call 211, 311, or 911 to get a MACRO response.
Email: MACRO@oaklandca.gov
When emailing MACRO please use this template:
· Email MACRO@oaklandca.gov
· Subject: "Request for Service @ Address/Location + Incident Type"
· Body: Description of Incident, any relevant history and if possible, a picture.
History of the Program:
In 2019, City Council allocated $40,000 to research the feasibility of launching a program in Oakland modeled after Eugene Oregon Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) model, widely recognized as a non-law enforcement mobile crisis intervention that has seen significant success since its inception 31 years ago.
Intended MACRO Outcomes
- Decreased negative outcomes from law enforcement response to nonviolent 911 emergency calls, especially among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC);
- Increased connections to community-based services for people in crisis, especially among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color;
- Redirection of MACRO-identified 911 calls to an alternative community response system;
- Reduced Oakland Police Department & Oakland Fire Department expenses and call volume related to 911 nonviolent calls involving people with behavioral health, substance use, and unsheltered individuals.
How to request a MACRO response?
We are pleased to announce that MACRO now has a dedicated phone number for community members to use to request service. More information is available below and on the MACRO webpage: https://www.oaklandca.gov/projects/macro-mobile-assistance-community-responders-of-oakland
Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO)
The Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) Program is a community response program for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls. The purpose of MACRO is to meet the needs of the community with a compassionate care first response model grounded in empathy, service, and community. MACRO's goal is to reduce responses by emergency services (Fire & Police), resulting in increased access to community-based services and resources for impacted individuals and families, and most especially for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
When to call MACRO
MACRO teams respond to calls about homelessness, some behavioral or mental health calls, noise complaints and people being drunk (and nonviolent) in public.
MACRO units do not respond inside anyone's home, to domestic violence calls or to any situations that appears dangerous or violent.
MACRO requests are for quality of life concerns and NOT for EMERGENCIES or VIOLENT situations.
If an immediate emergency response is required, please call 911.
How to Reach MACRO
Phone: (510) 44 MACRO | (510) 446-2276
In an effort to aid the dispatcher, callers should confirm that the situation is non-violent, non-emergent, no visible weapons and outside of a dwelling/residence or business.
Please do not call 211, 311, or 911 to get a MACRO response.
Email: MACRO@oaklandca.gov
When emailing MACRO please use this template:
· Email MACRO@oaklandca.gov
· Subject: "Request for Service @ Address/Location + Incident Type"
· Body: Description of Incident, any relevant history and if possible, a picture.
MACRO Call Types
The incident calls or “call types” will be focused on non-emergency, non-violent, low acuity “quality of life” calls. Meetings between OPD & OFD were convened to review incident types and trends for days/times for service call history in the geographic identified areas for the pilot.
MACRO Crews will respond to low acuity quality of life calls in three categories: (1) Behavioral Health Issues (2) Individual Well-Being (3) Community Disturbance:
Behavioral Health Issues
- Mental Health Concern (Low)
- Mental Health Challenge (Moderate)
- Indecent Exposure (Limited)
Individual Well Being
- Wellness Check
- Sleeper
- Found Senile
Community Disturbance
- Intoxicated Group / Drunk in Public
- Noise Complaint
- Disorderly Juvenile
- Panhandling (Non-Aggressive)
Frequently Asked Questions:
When Should I call MACRO?
It is important to call MACRO at the onset of a behavioral health issue or when there is initial concern for a person's mental health & well-being. The earlier a MACRO team can begin an intervention the better chances are to de-escalate the challenge before an individual is in crisis.
When did the MACRO program launch?
The Program launched on April 9, 2022.
What geographic areas does MACRO cover?
MACRO Serves the whole City of Oakland. The pilot initially launched in East and West Oakland.
The City of Oakland is divided into six zones of service:
- Zone 2 - Deep East Oakland
- Zone 4 - East Oakland
- Zone 6 - Fruitvale / San Antonio / East Lake
- Zone 3 - West Oakland / Jack London
- Zone 5 - North Oakland / Rock Ridge / Temescal
- Zone 7 - Downtown Oakland / Lake Merrit
When will MACRO be available 24/7?
After thorough evaluation of the community's needs, addressing any safety issues, and a clear contingency plan, OFD will consider and plan for a 24/7 deployment.
MACRO Hours of Operation
Operating hours are 7 days a week, 6:30am-1:45pm [Day Shift].
[Swing Shifts] 2:00-10:00pm are schedules as our staffing permits and are currently being offered at least three days a week, with the goal to expand to 7 days with additional staff.
CONTACT:
Elliott Jones, Program Manager, MACRO, Oakland Fire Department, EJones3@oaklandca.gov
Michael Hunt, Public Information Officer, Oakland Fire Department, Mhunt@oaklandca.gov
Dena Delaviz, Data Analyst, Oakland Fire Department, Ddelaviz@oaklandca.gov
