Mayor Nichols Approves Funding to Expand Tulsa Fire Department’s Alternative Response Team 2

1. Home
2. Press Room
3. Mayor Nichols Approves Funding to Expand Tulsa Fire Department's Alternative Response Team 2

Mayor Monroe Nichols has approved additional funding to allow the Tulsa Fire Department to expand its Alternative Response Team 2 (ART-2) - a dedicated unit in Downtown Tulsa to decrease 911 medical call volumes and proactively serve those experiencing homelessness.

As part of the expansion, Family & Children's Services (F&CS) will provide increased clinicians as well as case navigation. Additionally, ART-2 will move from four days per week to seven days per week, allowing services to expand by 156 days per year.

"As we seek to reach functional zero homelessness by 2030, I am excited to announce that we're expanding a program that has had a substantial impact on homelessness in Downtown Tulsa," Mayor Nichols said. "I want to thank Chief Baker, the Tulsa Fire Department and all of our service providers for finding proven and commonsense solutions to help tackle some of our city's most pressing challenges."

ART-2, which was initially launched as a pilot program in August of 2023, operates in Downtown Tulsa within the Inner Dispersal Loop (IDL) to decrease 911 medical call volumes for Downtown fire companies, particularly Fire Stations 2 and 4, by providing advanced life support medical care while connecting individuals in need to crucial community services.

During the course of their work, ART-2 teams conduct wellness checks, provide outreach services, and provide community education. This response unit is not just a first-responder medical unit - it also provides outreach supplies such as hygiene kits, emergency food and water, harm reduction supplies like Narcan Leave Behind kits, and fentanyl test strips.

The most recent expansion is funded by $965,000 between the Walgreens Opioid Settlement Fund and CVS Oklahoma Settlement. The expansion builds on previous funding to expand the program in 2024 - $618,000 from the Walgreens Opioid Settlement Fund - that has been used to provide two additional positions, support supplies, and a vehicle.

In 2023, the ART-2 pilot team recorded 439 responses, averaging 4.87 responses per day. The program has resulted in multiple people receiving permanent housing and 57 referrals to social services, showcasing its effectiveness in addressing broader community needs.

"This is an innovative response model that the Fire Department is seeing a lot of success with," Public Safety Commissioner Laurel Roberts said. "We work with some incredible community partners, and we are eager to continue to better the lives of our unhoused neighbors, not only with medical care, but with coordinated housing and healthcare opportunities that are needed across the board."

ART-2 is a compliment to ART-1. Similar to ART-2, ART-1 is an innovative co-responder model that pairs a TFD paramedic with a COPES clinician to provide de-escalation and wrap-around services citywide.

ART-1 and ART-2 are both services that assist in providing mental health resources through innovative first responder models. Resources, as proven, help people find permanent housing. Both models are a key component of Mayor Nichols' goal to achieve zero functional homelessness by 2030.

More information about ART-2 and additional City support services can be found online at: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/path-to-home/programs-resources/.

--###--