Tulsa, Oklahoma — Amid sweeping state budget cuts to mental health services, the City of Tulsa is adopting a proactive approach to crisis response by embedding mental health clinicians directly into its 911 dispatch center.
In a move designed to divert non-violent mental health emergencies away from traditional police or paramedic response, clinicians from Community Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Services (COPES) are now collaborating with dispatchers to assess incoming calls. The initiative is part of a broader effort to deliver more appropriate care and alleviate the burden on first responders.
Amanda Bradley of Family & Children’s Services, the nonprofit organization that oversees COPES, said the addition of clinicians has significantly improved the handling of mental health-related calls. In March alone, COPES diverted 562 calls — representing 86% of cases reviewed — away from law enforcement and emergency medical services and into the hands of trained mental health professionals.
Mayor Monroe Nichols, speaking at a press conference on Monday, hailed the program as a key step toward his goal of making Tulsa “the safest big city in the country.”
“Safety isn’t just about the number of police officers or firefighters,” Nichols said. “It’s about having the right tools to support our community. When someone dials 911 in the middle of a mental health crisis, they don’t always need sirens. But they always need help.”
The city’s new model is also being welcomed by first responders. Tulsa Police Deputy Chief Jonathan Brooks noted that the integration of clinicians allows the department to conserve vital resources while ensuring appropriate care is provided.
“That allows us to resolve a lot of situations without using Tulsa’s precious resources of policemen, firemen or paramedics,” Brooks said.
The expansion of the program comes at a time of financial uncertainty for COPES. In March, the State of Oklahoma announced it would be cutting $895,000 from the organization’s budget. However, following public concern, the state agreed to continue funding COPES through at least June 30, citing the program’s essential role in crisis intervention.
Despite that temporary reprieve, other cuts remain a concern. Family & Children’s Services spokesperson Chris Posey confirmed Monday that a separate state grant — which funds mental health, social services, and healthcare treatment — will be terminated effective May 10. Similar notifications have reportedly been issued to other organizations, including GRAND Mental Health and CREOKS.
Nevertheless, COPES operations remain stable, according to Bradley.
“There’s no disruption to our services. There’s no disruption to the individuals that we serve. We’re open,” she assured.
The funding reductions are part of a broader shake-up initiated by Governor Kevin Stitt, who has criticized Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics for prioritizing executive salaries over client services. While insisting that funding is not being eliminated but instead redirected for greater impact, the governor announced Monday that he would appoint a special investigator to examine the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Stitt said the review follows “multiple disturbing discoveries” related to the department’s finances and contracting practices under its previous leadership. The investigation comes as Oklahoma braces for potential restructuring of public health funding at the federal level.
