The Intensive Care Team — or “ICT” program for mental health emergency calls — has completed its first 30 days in Wichita. In the program, a COMCARE worker, police officer, and paramedic answer a mental health call together. Executive Director of COMCARE, Joan Tammany, has an update for us.

She says, “The outcomes are really impressive. They responded to 91 mental health calls as a team and we treated and placed greater than 60 percent of those calls.” Tammany says the ICT program is freeing up the fire department, police, emergency rooms, and the COMCARE Crisis Center. She says this helps people get the treatment they need during a mental health crisis without passing on higher costs to them.

She also says the ICT pilot program is already saving lives and adds that she’s confident at the end of 90 days the county will move that into a permanent program.

The ICT pilot program now has less than 60 days left. KFDI News will continue to follow up on this important community issue.