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Grand County explores EMS-based crisis co-responder program; Foundation and towns signal support
Summary
Staff proposed an EMS-based crisis co-responder model pairing an EMS clinician and behavioral health clinician to respond to behavioral-health 911 calls. Estimated full 24/7 staffing costs: $650K–$700K per year with ~ $125K startup; the Grand Foundation signaled funding interest and staff will pursue grants and town buy-in.
Grand County EMS proposed establishing a crisis co-responder program that pairs an EMS provider (with extra crisis-response training) and a licensed behavioral-health clinician to respond together to behavioral-health-involved 9-1-1 calls.
Austin Wingate (Grand County EMS) said the model aims to provide on-scene assessment, stabilization and connections to appropriate services instead of defaulting to jail or emergency departments. Staff estimated a fully staffed, countywide 24/7 program would cost roughly $650,000–$700,000 annually with start-up cash needs of about $125,000 for vehicles, software and training. Wingate said the program could reuse some EMS vehicles to reduce capital costs and emphasized pursuing multiple funding sources: state grants (Office of eHealth Innovations and others), multi-party intergovernmental agreements, hospital/municipal contributions and philanthropic support.
Megan Ladin of the Grand Foundation confirmed the foundation’s interest and potential Hope Fund support and said private donors have indicated willingness to help. Commissioners expressed support for pursuing grants and asked staff to present numbers for the upcoming mayor/manager meeting to secure municipal buy-in and possible dispatch-cost-sharing models. Staff will prepare a budget line and pursue grant applications; Finance and EMS committed to include a placeholder line in the 2026 budget process.
