Community Crisis Response Program

The Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP) works across Toronto providing support and resources to communities impacted by violent and traumatic incidents.

By providing immediate supports, the CCRP mobilizes local resources to address individual/group needs, coordinates community debriefings and facilitates information sharing.

Long-term supports offered by the program include establishing training and education sessions, facilitating community safety audits, and fostering the development of innovative, community safety projects.

How It Works

On a daily basis, CCRP staff gather and receive information on critical incidents from police, print and TV media, community organizations and other municipal services. Within a 24-hour period, CCRP staff coordinate needs assessments for crisis response activities through communications with City services, police, community service agencies and private sector. Community discussions are conducted in consultation and coordination with the Community Crisis Intervention and Support Team (CCIST) operated by Toronto Public Health.

Community issues requiring long-term strategies are referred on to the Community Development Officer(s) assigned to the area where possible (if the incident occurred in a priority area), to a local network of community agencies (if one exists), or to a community agency operating in the area.

An assessment for long-term supports is made either through an individual meeting with local groups or agencies, or through community meetings following a critical incident. These supports may include coordinating capacity building workshops, assisting in developing community-based response systems, or supporting community development initiatives in the absence of other dedicated resources.