The Flagstaff City Council approved a $2.5 million three-year contract with Terros Health in March, funding the creation of a mental health response team that could be dispatched through the ordinary 911 system, leading to the funding of the launch of the Community Alliance Response and Engagement -- or CARE team.
Today, that team is out on the streets responding to incidents and providing community outreach.
On weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., a mental health professional pairs with an EMT from the Flagstaff Fire Department. They prepare their patrol vehicle, an unassuming white Toyota minivan, for the day. They clean and sanitize the back seat, which is divided from the front seat by a black mesh barrier. The team makes sure their van is fully stocked with everything from water bottles, sandwiches (provided by Flagstaff Family Food Center), candy (typically Smarties), and dog food to T-shirts and Narcan.