On March 16, 2026, CPR filed a landmark federal lawsuit challenging the City of Worcester’s 911 program that discriminates against children, youth and adults with mental health disabilities by denying them equal access to appropriate emergency services. The plaintiffs include the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Massachusetts, NAMI Massachusetts, and the Parent-Professional Advocacy League.
The complaint states that Worcester’s 911 program sends armed police officers to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, even though it sends qualified health care professionals, such as EMTs and paramedics, for individuals experiencing physical health emergencies like heart attacks. The City discriminates against people with mental health disabilities by denying them equal benefits from its 911 program, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
As a result, thousands of people in Worcester with mental health disabilities are denied appropriate emergency mental health care and are at risk of harm and injury. The presence of armed officers often escalates a mental health crisis, resulting in the unnecessary use of force and injury to people with mental health disabilities.
The lawsuit seeks to require Worcester to provide equally effective responses to physical and mental health emergencies by ensuring that, in appropriate cases, trained and qualified mental health professionals will be the first responders to mental health emergencies, similar to physical health emergency calls.
NAMI Central Mass, NAMI Massachusetts and PPAL are represented by CPR, the Disability Law Center, and the law firm of Nelson Mullins.