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City staff describes ART 1 co‑response unit for mental and behavioral health crises
Summary
City staff described ART 1 (Alternate Response Team 1), a co‑response unit that pairs a TFD paramedic trained in crisis intervention with a COPES clinician from Family & Children's Services to respond to mental and behavioral health crises across the city.
City staff described ART 1 (Alternate Response Team 1), a co‑response unit for mental and behavioral health crises that pairs a Tulsa Fire Department paramedic and a COPES clinician from Family & Children's Services.
A presenter (name not given in the transcript) told the committee ART 1 was established to address mental and behavioral health at scale and is staffed with two individuals: a firefighter‑paramedic trained in crisis intervention and a COPES clinician (a licensed professional counselor) from Family & Children's Services. The unit responds to people of any age in crisis, with the presenter noting most calls are in the 18–45 age range and that about 20% of ART 1’s responses involve unhoused individuals.
Staff described ART 1’s work as providing an immediate medical evaluation by the paramedic to rule out physical-health needs and a clinician to address psychological needs and de‑escalation. The team also works with frequent 911 callers ("high utilizers") to start social services and address social determinants — education, employment, health care and social/community context. When in‑field resolution is insufficient, ART 1 may transport individuals to alternate destinations such as a crisis care center or an urgent recovery center.
Ending: Staff framed ART 1 as an early adopter among U.S. cities in pairing clinicians with a paramedic response and urged continued coordination among 911/public safety and social‑service providers; no committee action was recorded in the transcript.
