The Tulsa Fire Department and Family and Children Services are expanding a program downtown that pairs paramedics with mental health professionals to respond to certain 911 calls.

Q: What is The Alternative Response Team 2?

The Alternative Response Team 2, also known as ART-2, is a partnership between the Tulsa Fire Department and Family & Children’s Services. It pairs a paramedic with a licensed mental health clinician to respond to certain 911 calls inside the Inner Dispersal Loop, IDL, which surrounds downtown Tulsa.

Q: When did the program start, and how has it expanded?

The program launched as a pilot program.

Tulsa City Council approved funding to expand the program using money from the opioid settlement.

ART-2 began operating seven days a week, formally launching its expanded

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