The Tumwater City Council renewed an $80,000 grant for a program that connects 911 callers to a specialist instead of first responders. The Sept. 15 vote keeps the Community Assistance Referral and Education Services (CARES) program running through its second year of grant funding, The Jolt first reported.

CARES targets callers whose situations fall outside what police or firefighters can address. A dedicated staffer links those callers to help with physical health, chronic illness and social well-being.

Tumwater pays $122,500 a year for the program as part of a partnership with the Olympia Fire Department, which runs CARES. The $80,000 grant, from the Association of Washington Cities, covers a large share of that cost. The sources of the remaining $42,500 were not detailed in public records.

The Tumwater Fire Department joined the Olympia Fire Department in 2024 to co-staff the CARES position. A grant from the Association of Washington Cities made the role full time in 2025.

Tumwater Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Crimmins told a Public Health and Safety Committee meeting earlier in September that the city is in its second year of receiving the grant.

He said Tumwater remains eligible for one more year of funding and plans to reapply when the next cycle opens.

The Olympia Fire Department's CARES page describes the program as offering short-term case management and treatment planning. The goal is to reduce repeat 911 calls and emergency-room visits for non-acute concerns. The program connects clients to mental health professionals, community resources and health care providers for longer-term help.

Participation is voluntary. An initial meeting with a CARES specialist produces a plan tailored to each person's needs.

Residents can reach the CARES team at 360-709-2675 or [email protected].

A vote count for the Sept. 15 renewal was not available in public records. No reapplication deadline for the third year of grant funding has been announced.