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Broken Arrow police and fire update pilot mental‑health response program after six months: officials report early successes
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Summary
City officials briefed council on a six‑month pilot that pairs embedded mental‑health navigators and crisis‑response care coordinators with fire and police teams; they reported dozens of contacts, multiple successful referrals to treatment and plans to request continued funding.
Broken Arrow public safety leaders told the City Council Wednesday that a six‑month pilot program pairing the fire and police departments with community mental‑health providers has connected dozens of residents to services, cleared patrol resources and produced several documented success stories.
Assistant Fire Chief Mark Stewart and Major Steven Garrett reported on two linked efforts: CareLink, a partnership between the fire department and Family & Children Services that embeds a navigator in the public‑safety complex; and a crisis‑response team supplied by Grand Mental Health that provides care coordinators attached to police shifts. “We added two additional layers to help them keep from falling into the pit of despair,” Stewart said.
The program routes referrals from firefighters and officers to an on‑site navigator, Riley, who conducts in‑person “warm‑handoff” visits and connects clients to Family & Children Services’ network. Major Garrett described two responses where staff helped a veteran reach inpatient rehab and arranged treatment and sober living for a person with substance use disorder; both cases were cited as successful transitions back to independent living.
Program data presented to the council show the crisis‑response teams handled hundreds of contacts and follow-ups in the first months. Garrett said day and evening care coordinators alone recorded more than 100 calls and more than 100 follow‑ups, with dozens of referrals to mental‑health and substance‑use services. “When people miss meetings, they follow up,” Stewart said, describing weekend and evening outreach by partner agencies.
Officials said the first year of Family & Children Services’ navigator was provided at no cost to the city under the current agreement; opioid‑settlement funds have been used to support Grand Mental Health care coordinators. Council members asked about measurable reductions in repeat crisis calls; Major Garrett said an initial increase is common when outreach intensifies, but that follow‑up and relationship‑building are already producing fewer repeat crises for some clients.
Both chiefs asked the council to continue the pilot; Stewart said he plans to request funding to extend the program and explore adding coverage for later night shifts. City staff said providers will submit quarterly updates to the council and that officials will continue to seek grant and settlement funds to sustain the effort.
The council took no immediate funding action at the meeting; officials said they expect to return to the council with a formal funding request after another review period.
