Traverse City Renames Quick Response Team RESILIENCE Program to Aid Overdose-Vulnerable Residents

Traverse City Police Department announced on Feb. 10, 2026 that it has renamed its Quick Response Team (QRT) the RESILIENCE Program, a rebrand intended to better reflect work connecting and supporting residents who are vulnerable or at high risk of overdose and of involvement with the criminal-legal system. The department said the change responds to confusion among partners and participants about the old name and aims to sharpen messaging while preserving the program’s operations.

The department published a new mission statement for the RESILIENCE Program, saying it will continue to “cultivate individual and community resilience by providing resources to empower, support, and improve the lives of individuals engaging in a network of collaborative enrichment.” Officials said the rebrand includes a new logo and a dedicated program website, and that staff expect more robust follow-up and outcome reporting under the RESILIENCE name.

The rename follows a 2024 evaluation by the University of Michigan conducted as part of a federal Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Use Program grant. The evaluation reported a statistically significant reduction in negative law enforcement contacts among program participants and included 26 interviews with partner agencies and participants that identified confusion over the QRT name and goals. Traverse City Police Department officials said the evaluation’s findings informed the decision to adopt a clearer name that aligns with program aims.

The RESILIENCE Program will continue to operate on a voluntary basis and keep its original eligibility requirements, the department said. The Police Support Services Worker role remains unchanged. Department staff also stated that the initiative has helped hundreds of people experiencing crises access local services, and officials described the program as a non-traditional approach to co-occurring substance use, mental health crises and homelessness in Traverse City.

Jennifer Holm, police social worker coordinator for Traverse City Police Department, described the program’s practical focus on service navigation: “What was working was to empower people by identifying these potholes of things that aren't working in our community. To support people with making referrals and getting them connected to services and then really to improve the lives of the people that we are surveying by reducing those law enforcement calls by making a difference for them.”

Policy and operational implications include continuity of service delivery alongside a commitment to improved tracking of outcomes. The University of Michigan evaluation is cited as evidence of impact, but available reporting did not provide effect sizes, sample counts, or specific measures of overdose reductions. The department has not published detailed eligibility criteria or current caseload numbers.

For Grand Traverse County residents, the rebrand means familiar outreach and support services will continue under a new name intended to reduce confusion and strengthen connections to care. The next steps to watch include public release of the RESILIENCE Program’s outcome reports, clarification of eligibility and caseload figures, and any additional details the department provides about metrics it will track under the new brand.