Council approves emergency contract for mobile behavioral-health response unit

The Springfield City Council voted July 7 to approve emergency authorization of Ordinance 2026-345, awarding an RFP to Memorial Behavioral Health in the amount of $160,212.94 and authorizing a supplemental appropriation from the opioid-settlement restricted fund for personnel services related to the Beacon Project.

Chief Simo and Memorial Behavioral Health representatives described the program as a mobile crisis-response partnership that will pair Springfield Fire Department paramedics with mental-health clinicians. The contract provides for one full-time-equivalent clinician assigned to the fire apparatus with a 10-hour-day primary window and 24-hour on-call availability; clinicians will include licensed and master’s-level providers trained in crisis response and trauma-informed care.

“A lot of this is a trial period to find out if this operation is really going to serve the way we hope it does,” Chief Simo said, describing the city’s intent to partner rather than add permanent headcount. Memorial Behavioral Health said clinicians will perform crisis assessment at the scene and that data and outcomes will be tracked for future evaluation.

Alderman Hanauer and Alderwoman Conley both voiced support for the appropriation and noted that the funds come from the opioid settlement rather than the city’s general fund. The ordinance was approved on emergency passage by roll call, with 10 voting yes and none opposed.

Council members asked that departments provide follow-up reports on usage, outcomes and whether staffing or hours should be adjusted. City staff said they would provide metrics and implementation details to the council after the first months of operation.

The emergency appropriation authorizes the Memorial Behavioral Health contract and allows the mobile unit to be placed in service quickly to respond to mental-health crises, overdoses and other incidents requiring behavioral-health specialists.