Bartlesville City Council Renews GRAND Mental Health’s Recovery Support Specialist Program with Bartlesville Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Ethan Wood
Communications Manager
GRAND Mental Health
ewood@GRANDmh.com
918-899-0668
Catherine Divis
Schnake Turnbo Frank
catherine@schnake.com
918-645-0629
Bartlesville City Council Renews GRAND Mental Health’s Recovery Support Specialist Program with Bartlesville Police Department
Program embeds peer recovery specialists with police to divert individuals in crisis toward treatment; homeless outreach data shows nearly 2,100 successful contacts since February
Bartlesville, Okla. — [Aug. 07, 2026] – On August 3, 2026, the Bartlesville City Council voted to renew its contract with GRAND Mental Health for the City’s Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) Program. The program embeds Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS) from GRAND within the Bartlesville Police Department, where they work alongside existing police and community outreach teams to connect residents experiencing behavioral health and substance use crises with treatment and recovery services instead of incarceration.
“Rather than simply responding to calls for service, the specialists engage with people by building relationships, connecting residents to behavioral health treatment, working through substance use disorders, and providing ongoing peer support,” said Carl Hoopes, Executive Vice President and COO of GRAND Mental Health, “One of the strengths of this program is that outreach doesn’t stop at street engagement.”
The program is designed to change the outcome of encounters between police and individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. Instead of relying solely on arrest or repeated emergency responses, officers can immediately connect individuals to peer specialists who have lived experience and can help move someone into treatment and recovery.
Since February 2026, the team completed 2,142 attempted contacts and 2,130 successful contacts, providing outreach and supportive services to 178 distinct individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness throughout Washington County. Throughout this period, the team focused on meeting immediate needs while helping individuals work toward long-term stability.
“These efforts reflect GRAND Mental Health’s ongoing commitment to reducing barriers to housing, healthcare, recovery, employment, and other essential services while building trust through consistent community engagement,” said Hoopes. “By meeting individuals where they are, our team connects people with the resources they need before challenges escalate into a crisis. This proactive approach helps improve long-term stability while reducing reliance on emergency departments and law enforcement services.”
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About GRAND Mental Health:
GRAND Mental Health provides services for adults, children, adolescents, and families struggling with behavioral health issues, substance use issues, and integrated medical needs across northeastern and north central Oklahoma. In business since 1979, GRAND Mental Health is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) providing evidence-based mental health and substance use services, integrated with primary health care and wraparound support services, all focused on improving lives through innovation and access. GRAND Mental Health operates 39 clinics and centers in 25 Oklahoma counties, serving over 32,000 clients last year and employing more than 2,200 people. GRAND Mental Health works closely with and is partially funded by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.