Since expanding its team and extending operational hours in December 2025, the Crisis Assistance Team (CAT) of Flathead County is proving that the right kind of response can prevent crises from escalating into full-blown emergencies. Operating under the Behavioral Health Department, the CAT program focuses on de-escalating situations before they require law enforcement or emergency medical services, freeing up resources for other critical incidents.
Behavioral Health Supervisor James Pyke has worked with the team to integrate with other county agencies. Together they have forged strong collaborations with the Detention Facility, Sheriff's Department, and Agency on Aging to ensure that individuals in crisis receive appropriate care and support. "A crisis is not necessarily a dramatic or extreme event," Pyke explained. "It’s about how overwhelming the situation feels to the person. That could be anxiety, depression, or even the inability to meet basic needs like transportation to work or stable housing."
When the team started offering 7-day service in December 2024, they responded to 38 client interactions in the community, spending 40 hours on scene — 63% of which was handled without law enforcement involvement. This early success highlighted the team’s ability to independently de-escalate crises and prevent unnecessary ER visits and jail bookings, with 12 cases diverted from emergency rooms and four from jail.
As the program gains momentum and awareness of their presence and benefit grows, those numbers are climbing. By April 2025, the Crisis Assistance Team more than doubled their community responses to 96, spending significantly more time on scene. Remarkably, 66% of that time was managed without law enforcement assistance, further emphasizing the team’s growing impact.
The CAT program operates seven days a week, from 8 AM to 6 PM, with each shift comprising a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a care coordinator. They serve all of Flathead Valley and can be dispatched through the 911 system. The team also takes referrals from the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. This number is a vital resource for those experiencing any level of crisis — not just severe emergencies but also milder forms of distress that may escalate without intervention.
One of the most impactful aspects of the CAT program’s work is the 14-day care coordination period offered to individuals after a mobile crisis response. During this time, the team provides ongoing support to connect individuals with essential resources such as mental health services, housing resources, food programs, and other support services they may need. A portion of mobile crisis responses and care coordination activities are covered by Medicaid or other state funding sources. Flathead County and the City of Kalispell have also dedicated funding from the Montana Opioid Abatement Trust to help cover operating costs of the program. In a full-circle response to a national tragedy, money recovered from the opioid epidemic—funds gained through a landmark settlement with pharmaceutical companies—is now being used to address the very crisis it helped create. These funding sources ensure that individuals served by the team do not receive a bill for services. This allows the CAT program to serve the community broadly and make it accessible to anyone that needs care.
The CAT program utilizes unmarked vehicles that are equipped with safety barriers and auto-locking rear doors, allowing the team to transport individuals safely when necessary. This capability is vital for reducing law enforcement and EMS involvement and ensuring that those in crisis receive appropriate care in a calm, supportive environment.
The scope of a crisis is not limited to manic or psychotic episodes; it can include feelings of anxiety, depression, or financial insecurity that seem insurmountable to the person experiencing them. By addressing these situations early and connecting individuals with vital resources, the CAT program is making a tangible impact on the community.
If you or someone you know is struggling, whether it’s a mild crisis or a more urgent situation, CIT strongly encourages calling the 988 lifeline. The Crisis Assistance Team is ready to respond with compassion, care, and a focus on stabilization, ensuring that no one faces a crisis alone.