Oklahoma Reports More Than 12,000 Non-Police Transports In First Year Of Its Alternative Model For Mental Health Crisis

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) reported that during the first year after launching its alternative transportation model for mental health crisis, the transportation contractors provided more than 12,000 transports. Previously, only police transported people in mental health crisis to facilities with open beds. The new transportation model is intended to help eliminate stigma and to decriminalize mental health treatment.

This new approach is due to a change in state law that directed ODMHSAS to launch this new model. The new law allows for alternative transportation options when someone must be sent to a . . .