A Full House for Our First CARE TEAM Screening

It was standing room only for the premiere of THE CARE TEAM at Making Worlds Bookstore! We were grateful to be joined by the film’s stars, DeShante and Ben, for a conversation about their work as mobile crisis responders in Philadelphia. The compassion they bring to their work with people in crisis came through so strong. It was moving to hear them share about their own experiences healing from trauma, and how they bring their humanity, along with their skills as trained mental health professionals, into their work with people who are suffering.

After the screening, we gathered with Friends and Family at Manakeesh to celebrate the progress our movement has made in the fight to implement non-police mental health crisis response across Philadelphia. Prior to the campaign led by Amistad and the Philadelphia Treatment Not Trauma coalition, the Philadelphia Police Department responded to all calls from people suffering from a mental health crisis. Now the 200+ people calling the city for help can receive care from trained mental health professionals. 

Ben, DeShante, and their colleagues encounter people in moments that can define the rest of their lives. We owe it to everyone involved to create a solid infrastructure for these encounters, like short wait times and salaries that allow staff to stay in these roles for the long haul. 

We look forward to sharing this film with communities across Philadelphia in the months to come! Stay tuned for more info on upcoming screenings.