Bellingham's Alternative Response Team offers mental health support model

The first-of-its-kind program in Washington state has responded to over 2,000 calls in 2025.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Whatcom County's Alternative Response Team (ART) is a group of six behavioral health specialists and a supervisor who respond to behavioral health-related 911 calls in Bellingham that don't involve someone being a danger to themselves or others. ART is the first program of its kind in Washington state and celebrated its third year in operation last month.

Why it matters

ART is part of a broader effort in Bellingham to provide compassionate care and connect people in crisis with community resources, rather than involving law enforcement. The program aims to free up police to focus on other situations while ensuring those experiencing behavioral health issues receive the specialized support they need.

The details

ART is overseen by Whatcom County Health and Community Services and works closely with the Bellingham mayor's office and police department. The team responds to calls that are forwarded from the 911 dispatch center, with an ART member on the dispatch floor to help determine the appropriate response. ART members can call for backup from law enforcement, EMTs or a crisis responder if needed, but only about 3% of their calls have required police assistance. ART currently operates weekdays from 8am to 6pm, though there are hopes to expand the program's hours and geographic coverage.

  • ART began discussions after the killing of George Floyd in May 2020.
  • ART celebrated its third year in operation in 2025.
  • ART responded to 2,120 calls in 2025.

The players

Alternative Response Team (ART)

A group of six behavioral health specialists and a supervisor who respond to behavioral health-related 911 calls in Bellingham that don't involve someone being a danger to themselves or others.

Whatcom County 911 Dispatch Center (What-Comm)

The 911 dispatch center that fields calls and works with ART to determine the appropriate response.

Malora Christensen

Manager of Whatcom County Health and Community Services' Response System Division, which oversees ART.

Justin Rasmussen

Deputy director of the Whatcom County 911 dispatch center.

Dan Hammill

Bellingham City Council member who was part of the team that created ART.

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What they’re saying

“As a public safety telecommunicator, there's nothing worse than feeling like the person on the other end of my line needs some sort of service that we just don't have quite the right tool for.”

— Justin Rasmussen, Deputy director, Whatcom County 911 dispatch center (Bellingham Herald)

“ART is part of a social safety net that's unique to Bellingham. Many communities are looking toward Bellingham as a resource, an idea factory, when it comes to how to address behavioral health issues that happen every day in communities across Washington state and across the country.”

— Dan Hammill, Bellingham City Council member (Bellingham Herald)

“Having ART as a member of the team, helping provide people in crisis with immediate, meaningful, caring, and compassionate care, makes all our jobs easier, lightens the load, and above all provides people in crisis with the services they need.”

— Claudia Murphy, Lieutenant, Bellingham Police Department (Bellingham Herald)

What’s next

Whatcom County is considering expanding ART's hours and geographic coverage, though funding and capacity are uncertain.

The takeaway

Bellingham's Alternative Response Team provides a model for how communities can address behavioral health crises through specialized, compassionate care rather than relying solely on traditional law enforcement responses. The program's success has made it a resource for other communities looking to implement similar approaches.