Beginning Wednesday a new partnership is bringing a mobile crisis intervention team to Springfield and Glenwood.
Since 1989, White Bird in Eugene has operated two CAHOOTS vans. It stands for Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets.
Paid for with a grant from Lane County, there will be one CAHOOTS van dedicated to serving those in need in Springfield and Glenwood. The van is staffed with a mental health crisis worker and an emergency medical technician.
Niel Laudati is Spokesman for the City of Springfield.
Laudati: "There are several options that we have, but nothing that was obviously mobile like CAHOOTS, nothing that was as good as taking the pressure off of police and fire and our ambulance services, as well as CAHOOTS can do it."
The CAHOOTS van in Springfield and Glenwood will operate seven days a week from noon to 11:30 p.m. It can be reached by calling the Springfield Police non-emergency line, 541-726-3714.