Our Mission
The HOPE (Healing Outreach and Peer Engagement) First Roc a peer-led non-police crisis response team piloted by Daniel’s Law, NY and a Community Advisory Board. Our mission is to mobilize peer support for people in crisis to ensure safety in our community. We value lived and living experience as a key element of an individuals’ capacity to lead, respond to crisis, effectively navigate existing structures, and imagine creative futures for a community in which everyone is safe.
HOPE FIrst responds to crisis calls, gathers data, builds rapport and trust with community members. We aim to demonstrate through our success that trauma-informed, peer-led teams are safe and effective crisis-responses.
Points of unity
Our work is grounded in these shared commitments.
CARE IS VOLUNTARY
All support is freely given — consent and agency come first.
LIVED EXPERIENCE LEADS
People with direct experience guide crisis response, not institutions.
CRISIS IS SELF DEFINED
Only the person in crisis has the right to define it.
COMMUNITIES HOLD POWER
Neighborhoods already have the skills and care needed to keep each other safe.
WE KEEP US SAFE
Safety is built through relationships, not enforcement. People — not police — provide care.
RESOURCES CREATE POSSIBILITIES
People with direct experience guide crisis response, not institutions.