Using funds from the National Opioid Settlement Agreement, Flathead County and the City of Kalispell entered an agreement to fund a Crisis Assistance Team (C.A.T.). Both Kalispell and Flathead County received settlements – together totaling ~$100k – and they determined combining funds for a crisis co-responder program was necessary as some 911 calls indicate the need for alternative behavioral health services. Combining the funds will create the CAT team that can service the entire county. CAT will be employed by Flathead City-County Health Department and will work closely with the sheriff’s office, 911, and police departments in Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls. Funds from this yearly settlement should keep the program running for the next twenty years.
CAT is a mobile crisis response team, responding to a variety of crisis calls including domestic violence, suicide, child abuse or neglect, and other social disruptions with the goal of intervening in crisis situations. They will evaluate if there is a need for treatment/hospitalization and provide resources and referrals for treatment.
Flathead City-County Health Department has been interviewing for an open position on the crisis assistance team. If you are interested, please visit https://flathead.mt.gov/department-directory/human-resources/apply.