SAN DIEGO — On this episode of We Are San Diego Fire-Rescue, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department highlighted one of the specialized care teams within its Emergency Medical Services division: the Resource Access Program, or RAP.

On average, SDFD responds to more than 185,000 calls each year. What many may not realize is that a small subset of individuals call 911 hundreds of times annually for needs beyond emergency medicine — including mental health challenges, substance use, housing instability, chronic medical conditions and other barriers to care.

That's where RAP comes in.

No two days look the same for this team. Their work may include delivering care packages, helping people access medication, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness to help them find pathways to long-term sheltering, or simply taking the time to connect with someone at high-risk. They also work frequently with other organizations and City departments to deliver these services.

Through compassion, consistency and trust, RAP builds relationships with some of our most vulnerable San Diegans, connecting them to personalized resources while helping free up emergency crews for urgent calls across the City.

Since the end of April, SDFD has also been collaborating with Mark, a psychiatric nurse practitioner from UC San Diego Health who has joined the RAP team for the foreseeable future. His partnership adds another layer of support as the team helps individuals access care beyond the emergency response.

This is care beyond the call, and it is making a meaningful difference in lives across San Diego.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is based in California.