The Center for Public Safety Excellence® (CPSE®) Center for Innovation (CPSE CFI) has released their Strategic Scan #3 on Community Needs and Co-Responder Programs: Goals, Design, and Data.

The purpose of this Strategic Scan is to provide a snapshot of how local governments are engaging with these programs, the challenges driving their development, and key considerations shaping program design and sustainability. Data for this Strategic Scan were gathered in January and February of 2026 from fire chiefs representing agencies accredited by the Center for Public Safety Excellence® (CPSE®) Commission on Fire Accreditation International® (CFAI®), as well as those holding the Chief Fire Officer® (CFO) credential from the CPSE Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®). As with prior Scans, the findings are not intended to be representative of the fire and emergency service as a whole, but instead offer insight from leaders who are highly engaged in assessing community needs and planning and creating targeted community risk reduction programs.