Source: City of Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow Police and Fire Departments are taking a collaborative approach to resolving emergency situations for people suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues.
Beginning July 1, care coordinators from Family & Children’s Services and Grand Mental Health will be embedded with first responders.
Family & Children Services will work with the Broken Arrow Fire Department, and Grand Mental Health care coordinators will work alongside the Broken Arrow Police Department.
“Embedding these care coordinators in both our agencies will help because they can connect our citizens with the needed services,” BAPD Maj. Stephen Garrett says.
The need is great. Last year, the departments received 590 mental health crisis calls. Specifically, there were 301 residents taken into emergency protective custody, 92 overdoses, and eight suicides.
“We’ve had 37 individuals in the last six months that have resulted in 250 responses from our team,” said Asst. Fire Chief Mark Steward. “These are people whose needs are not being met, and they’re relying on us to meet their basic needs for daily activities.”
Garrett emphasized that the program will not replace first responders who serve citizens at a scene.
“We have care coordinators that will be there also with the first responders on the scene simultaneously,” Garrett said. “And it’s not a program to keep criminals from going to jail. If someone commits a crime, we’ll handle it appropriately.”
According to Steward, the community is robust. It does an excellent job of helping folks get back on their feet.
“But we’re woefully unprepared to handle some of the crises we encounter,” he said. “We only have two tools in our toolbox, jail and the emergency room. Unfortunately, those are very short-term solutions. They end up right back in the same situation. It’s a vicious cycle.”
Factors that can contribute to these types of situations include aging, mental health issues, substance abuse, homelessness, and mobility issues.
“Substance abuse is often at the core of many of these situations,” Steward said. “These precipitating factors can send folks into a freefall.”
The opioid settlement payouts will provide funding for the interagency collaboration. The City of Broken Arrow is one of several entities receiving funds through the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board. The State of Oklahoma has received these funds from lawsuits against opioid distributors, manufacturers, and retailers to address the impact of opioid abuse on communities throughout the state.
Broken Arrow Mayor Debra Wimpee said she is proud of the innovative approach the departments are taking to tackling and funding these situations.
“I just came from a Mayor’s conference, and so many cities are dealing with mental health issues,” Wimpee said. “I think other cities will want to duplicate this program once it’s running. Using these funds and not having to use the general fund will be great.”
Councilor Justin Green is a corporal at the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. As such, he said he’s very aware of the limited resources and the manpower that’s available to these departments.
“Community partnership is huge,” Green said. “Finding other professionals that can help focus on these things will be a game-changer for what you do, and the services provided to our citizens. Thank you for thinking outside the box and finding ways to serve our community better.”
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