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Emergencies & After-Hours Care

ACES Co-Responder Program

The Assistance, Connection, and Engagement Services (ACES) Program is a partnership between Texas A&M University Health Services and the University Police Department (UPD) committed to linking members of the Aggieland community to appropriate mental health care and support services. In addition to proactively and compassionately engaging with community members throughout the campus environment, the ACES Program strives to support the mental health needs of community members by assisting individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and connecting them to proper community service providers.

Established in August 2023, the ACES Program is a Texas A&M University partnership pairing police officers with licensed professional counselors referred to as Mental Health Co-Responders. As a vital part of the University Health Services crisis counseling team, the ACES Team Co-Responders work alongside UPD officers to respond to police calls for service involving mental health-related concerns.

Co-Responders accompany UPD officers while patrolling the Aggieland community, offering specialized care during emergency situations and ensuring individuals in crisis receive appropriate support. Drawing on their specialized training, co-responders assess situations, provide immediate de-escalation and support to individuals in distress, and connect them with appropriate resources. The program prioritizes linking students to University Health Services, including escorting them to the Counseling and Mental Health Care Center for urgent support when needed. Additionally, Co-Responders foster community engagement through outreach initiatives and provide mental health education and training to students, staff, and the broader Aggieland community.

University Health Services Co-Responder Program Staff:

Frequently Asked Questions

Police jurisdictions across the country have seen a rise in the number of mental health-related calls they are receiving, and Texas A&M is no different. Research has indicated that multidisciplinary Co-Responder Teams provide a number of benefits to the communities in which they serve, including fewer psychiatric hospitalizations/ER visits, reduced use of force, fewer arrests, and reduced officer time on scene. Furthermore, Co-Responder Teams are equipped to help distressed individuals get connected to the mental health support that they might not have sought out otherwise. Simply put, the ACES Team was created to help make the Texas A&M community safer and healthier.
Yes, but please remember that 911 should only be used for emergencies. If your situation is not an emergency, contact the University Police Department (UPD) at their non-emergency number 979-845-2345. You may request the assistance of a Co-Responder during this conversation. Additionally, please note that ACES Team Co-Responders only accompany officers from the Texas A&M University Police Department and do not generally respond with any surrounding city or county law enforcement agencies unless coordinated through UPD.
Co-responders are available to respond alongside law enforcement from Monday to Friday, 7AM to 10PM. However, the Texas A&M University Police Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You can request an officer at any time, and they will provide assistance regardless of whether a Co-Responder is available.

To learn more about the ACES Co-Responder Program, contact Dr. Kari Becker at 979.458.4584.