Mobile Integrated Healthcare FAQs

Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) is a program within the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Operations Division. It provides an alternative response to 911 calls involving mental health or behavioral health needs. In addition to law enforcement or traditional emergency services, MIH is a new emergency response that connects residents to trained mental health professionals and support teams who can best meet their unique needs.

As Oklahoma City continues to grow, the needs of its residents also are changing. MIH was created to ensure that when someone calls 911 for a behavioral or mental health issue, the response they receive is appropriate and effective. By expanding the City’s ability to respond to these specific types of emergencies, MIH also helps police, firefighters and medics stay focused on the calls they’re best trained to handle.

MIH helps people in crisis receive care in the community, often avoiding unnecessary hospital trips or interactions with law enforcement. This reduces strain on emergency services and helps individuals access long-term support and resources. By stabilizing people where they are and connecting them with the most appropriate services, MIH promotes recovery and reduces the chances of future crises.

No. MIH does not replace existing services like the 988 Mental Health Lifeline or 211 for social service referrals. Those resources remain important tools for residents in need. MIH complements them by offering additional in-person and real-time support during a behavioral health crisis when someone calls 911.

The Mobile Integrated Healthcare program originates from work that began in 2020 with the creation of the Law Enforcement Policy Task Force and the Community Policing Working Group. The result of the meaningful work and collaboration of these two groups was the Recommendation Report(PDF, 2MB) received by Council in March 2022. From that report, the Public Safety Partnership was formed to ensure a sustained focus on the implementation of those recommendations. The Public Safety Partnership continues to be a collaboration among community stakeholders, city council, OKCPD, OKCFD and residents to advance public safety for the Oklahoma City community.

Mobile Integrated Healthcare operates under the Oklahoma City Fire Department and includes a specialized staff of licensed clinicians, paramedics, response navigators and peer recovery specialists. MIH is organized into four teams:

• Crisis Call Diversion (CCD): Staff embedded in the 911 Communications Center to assess mental health-related calls and determine the most appropriate response.
• Crisis Response Team (CRT): Responds to individuals experiencing a mental health emergency who may be showing signs of being a risk to themselves or others. Often co-responds with Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)-trained law enforcement officers.
• Alternative Response Team (ART): Handles overdose situations and less acute mental or behavioral health needs, and supports individuals beyond the crisis.
• Community Advocacy Program (CAP): Works with residents who frequently call 911 for non-emergency concerns, helping them address their underlying needs and connecting them to resources.

When a 911 call comes in, trained dispatchers assess the situation to decide if an MIH response is appropriate. In some cases, if an in-person response is not needed, dispatchers may provide support over the phone and connect the caller with resources. If an in-person team is needed, the dispatcher sends the team that can best address the caller’s needs. If there’s a safety concern, MIH may respond alongside law enforcement.

All MIH team members hold professional licenses or certifications specific to their roles and have experience in crisis response:

• Clinicians have a master’s degree in a mental health field and are licensed professionals (LPC, LADC, LMFT, or LCSW).
• Response navigators have degrees in mental health and certifications from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
• Paramedics are licensed emergency responders with specialized behavioral health training.
• Peer recovery support specialists are certified professionals with lived experience in recovery, trained to help others navigate similar challenges.

MIH collaborates with local mental health providers, nonprofit agencies and social services organizations to connect residents with ongoing care. After an initial response, team members may refer individuals to services that support long-term recovery, housing stability, healthcare access and more.