Annual Update of the CARE Unit
 

In FY2020-2021, the City of Flagstaff determined the number of 911 non-emergent type calls were outpacing the resources of the Flagstaff Fire Department, Flagstaff Police Department, and the local private ambulance company.  These types of calls were predominately based around substance use and mental health issues. With all the available resources in the City, it was also determined that taking these clients to the hospital was not always the best option and that those resources needed to be brought together to address this community issue.  The City of Flagstaff, community members and a special committee partnered together to approve and fund the CARE unit.  Terros Health shared the City's vision and was awarded an initial 3-year contract as the project lead and would partner with an FF/EMT on the unit from Flagstaff Fire Department. It took months of planning, inter-agency and inter-divisional collaboration and finally hiring and training to support the new unit becoming operational.

On March 28, 2022, the unit went operational on a 10-hr workday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Calls for service came through two medians, 911 Dispatch and public outreach as the unit was mobile in the community. The unit is based out of Fire Station 6 on Lake Mary Road, utilizing the community room for its headquarters. 

The annual report is part of the contractual agreement between the City and Terros to provide annual statistics and updates on the function and impacts of the unit.

This is the final year of an agreed upon 3-year contract through October 19, 2024.  Funding to continue the program has been included in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget.  

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PBB Key Community Priorities:
- Livable Community
- Safe & Healthy Community
- Inclusive and Engaged Community

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