Joe Mishler has been an emergency responder for more than 40 years, about half of which he spent in Juneau. He’s retiring at the end of the month to take care of an aging family member.

Mishler has spearheaded a team of mobile response units called Community Assistance Response and Emergency Services, or CARES, that address needs that can fall through the cracks. Things like follow-up medical care, housing support or substance use treatment. He says the program evolved out of in-home care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The teams can meet people where they are — at home, at a shelter, or on the street.

KTOO’s Yvonne Krumrey met him at his office at the fire station to ask about what he learned, and what mobile response units do for the community. https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/upload

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