San José Fire Department Launches Mobile Care Unit

Beginning Thursday, October 1, 2026, the San José Fire Department's new Mobile Care Unit will begin serving residents as part of a six-month Community Paramedicine Pilot Program. The pilot will run through March 31, 2027, providing a different approach for residents whose medical, behavioral health, substance use, or social service needs may not be fully addressed through a traditional 9-1-1 response.

The Mobile Care Unit is a Mobile Integrated Health team made up of specially trained paramedics who provide follow-up care and connect residents with resources in their homes and communities. The team will work with residents who may benefit from a different kind of response, including people who frequently call 9-1-1, people experiencing behavioral health or substance use challenges, and unhoused community members. The Mobile Care Unit can connect residents with primary care, behavioral health and substance use treatment, housing, and other social services.

The Mobile Care Unit will initially serve downtown San José and the response areas surrounding Fire Stations 1, 3, 8, 26, 30, and 34, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services are initiated through established referral processes, including referrals from SJFD personnel following an emergency response. Residents should continue to call 9-1-1 for emergency medical services.

Participation with the Mobile Care Unit is voluntary. Residents can decline services or stop participating at any time, without affecting their access to 9-1-1 or emergency care. The goal is to meet residents where they are, connect them with appropriate care and resources, and provide support beyond a single emergency response.

For more information, please visit our Community Paramedicine Pilot Program webpage.