Newsroom

Harris County, TX, February 11, 2026, Harris County’s Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), which dispatches unarmed responders trained in behavioral health to non-emergency 911 calls, recently responded to its 25,000th call for service since the program was first created in 2022. 

By diverting nonviolent 911 calls, HART helps free up law enforcement officials to respond more quickly to violent crimes. The program also helps divert people who might end up in jail into mental health treatment instead. HART also helps increase trust between first responders and the community. In a recent Harris County Public Health report published in December 2025, 95 percent of community members who engaged with the program said they felt safe with HART responders – up from 79 percent in February 2025. 

“HART is a win-win for our community: It helps divert folks toward mental health resources instead of ending up in jail, and it frees up law enforcement officers to respond faster to violent crime. HART makes our community safer, and I am grateful to everyone who has made this program possible,” said Judge Hidalgo.

Commissioners Court first created HART in January of 2022 to operate in parts of Harris County. The program expanded countywide in September 2025. HART responders most often respond to calls such as welfare checks, mental health or other medical emergencies, reports of a suspicious person and requests for information. 

Since its establishment, HART has become a nationally recognized model, as staff overseeing the program are routinely requested to share how the program works to jurisdictions across the country. 

                                                                                                       ###