Crisis Assistance Team a valuable resource
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 other county agencies. They collaborate 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 said. "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.
By April 2025, the Crisis Assistance Team doubled their community responses to 96, spending more time on scene.
The CAT program operates seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with each shift comprising a licensed clinical social worker 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.
The CAT also offers a 14-day care coordination period to individuals after a mobile crisis response. During this time, the team provides ongoing support to connect individuals with resources such as mental health services, housing, food programs, and other support services.
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.
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.
If you or someone you know is struggling, whether it’s a mild crisis or a more urgent situation, CAT strongly encourages calling the 988 lifeline.
The CAT is ready to respond with compassion, care, and a focus on stabilization, ensuring that no one faces a crisis alone.