The city of Charleston has hired a mental health coordinator to work with a mental health response team and the community. Alecia Allen will work with the Coordinated Addiction Response Effort, an office created by Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin in 2019 to coordinate, enhance and expand efforts to address the impact of substance use disorder on individuals, families and communities in Charleston. Allen will be responsible for coordinating the work of a mental health response team made up of city of Charleston staff, mental health experts, homeless shelters and social service providers. The CARE Office anticipates reaching up to 30 additional individuals or families each month to address mental health crises and additional social service needs.