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Ascension Saint John grant to fund two CARES case manager positions; committee briefed on $161,000 appropriation and $46,000 match
Summary
The committee heard staff describe a grant from Ascension Saint John to fund two social-service positions within the Tulsa Fire Department CARES program; staff requested a budget amendment to appropriate $161,000 in grant funds plus a $46,000 local match to support two case management positions.
City staff and Fire Department officials briefed the committee on a grant award from Ascension Saint John to support case-management positions within the Tulsa Fire Department’s CARES program, which targets high utilizers of 911.
Budget staff described an ordinance to amend the FY 2024–25 budget to appropriate $161,000 in grant revenues to the Public Safety nonfederal fund and to transfer a $46,000 match from the general fund. Captain Lundberg and Fire Department staff said the grant will fund a lead case coordinator and a case navigator to expand CARES services.
Captain Lundberg described CARES as a program that connects frequent 911 callers to social services and case management. "These case managers are really the facilitators for that," he said, adding the program coordinates with hospitals and other community partners and uses a HIPAA-compliant platform (referred to in testimony as Gelada) for information sharing.
Committee members pressed for sustainability planning and reimbursement opportunities. Staff and the department said many clients are Medicaid-eligible and that exploring Medicaid or third-party billing could be part of a longer-term funding strategy. Fire staff reported the two case managers increased the program’s capacity and that CARES last year achieved a measured reduction in repeat 911 use for enrolled clients (a figure cited in discussion was a roughly 74% reduction in calls for enrolled clients).
No formal committee vote was recorded in the transcript; staff asked for approval of the budget amendment so the city can process the grant funding and begin hiring.
