News
City of Bartlesville
Posted: Aug 06, 2026 2:38 PMUpdated: Aug 06, 2026 2:53 PM
City Council Renews Agreement for Grand's Crisis Response Partnership
Nathan Thompson
The Bartlesville City Council approved Monday a $123,891 contract renewal with Grand Mental Health to continue the Police Department's Recovery Support Specialist program for a third year.
The program pairs two certified peer recovery support specialists from Grand Mental Health with the department's Crisis Intervention Response Team and Parks and Pathfinder Program to connect people experiencing homelessness, mental illness and substance use disorders with treatment, housing and other services.
Police Chief Andrew Ward says the outreach team has become an essential community resource since launching two years ago.
Since January, the team has completed more than 2,200 outreach contacts, served 189 individuals, helped 13 people move into stable housing and connected others with sober living and residential treatment.
Ward says in July alone, the team prevented 38 crises and resolved 20 situations without requiring a law enforcement response.
The program's third year will be funded through Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Settlement Funds.
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