Agenda Item Name:
Title
Interlocal Agreement between Alachua County and the City of Gainesville for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program: Co-Responder TeamEnd
Presenter:
David Johnson: Alachua County Court Services, Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP), Program Manager 352.745.0266
Description:
On June 28th, 2021, Court Services/ JMHCP received on behalf of the County the contract for one additional Co-Responder Team in Gainesville Police Department. This contract provides the Officer portion of the team as in-kind match as required by the JMHCP Grant, funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). There were 5 months of delays in receiving final budget approval from both the US Department of the Treasury and the Bureau of Justice Assistance as a result of a new grants management system implemented in October 2020. The grant cycle 2 officially began on October 1, 2020 though, due the delays, began being charged on May 10, 2021.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Interlocal Agreement between Alachua County and the City of Gainesville for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program: Co-Responder Team
End
Prior Board Motions:
This grant application was submitted to the Bureau of Justice Assistance on May 15, 2020 with the approval of the submission by the Board of County Commissioners (5/7/2020).
11/10/2020: BoCC approved the grant award received from BJA on consent.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
The BoCC match is existing staff salaries.
End
Background:
The initial Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program was a cumulative award from BJA of $190,544 (Federal 152,435, County 38,109) to Alachua County. The Project has been operating since September 2017 and ended on November 30, 2020. This Project conducted a comprehensive process analysis of the criminal justice and behavioral health intersect in Alachua County. This study resulted in a Strategic Plan presented to and accepted by the Alachua County Public Safety Coordinating Council and JMHCP partners. A second primary effort of the initial grant developed a strong collaboration between the criminal justice system, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and behavioral health providers. The JMHCP Program during the first grant cycle has been led by the Department of Court Services.
Grant 2 is a cumulative award of $1,135,144 (Federal $729,639, County/ Meridian/ Gainesville Police Department $405,505) over a three year period. The Project is designed to build upon this platform to deepen the collaborative efforts of the partners to better serve those living with mental illness who are risk for or come into contact with the criminal justice system. Through the grant from BJA and local support, the Project has developed an executive oversight sub-committee including members of the PSCC and community stakeholders. The grant has also developed an operational team made up of behavioral health stakeholders, law enforcement, and researchers designed to carry out the day to day efforts.
The teams developed in Grant 1 represent a comprehensive group of stakeholders which have committed personnel and resources to the JMHCP vision which will continue through Grant 2. The Executive PSCC JMHCP Oversight Sub-Committee was created as a result of the Strategic Plan developed and includes the Alachua County Sheriff, Gainesville Police Department Chief of Police, Circuit Court Judge, State Attorney, Public Defender, Meridian Behavioral CEO, UF Health Psychiatric CEO, North Florida Regional Medical Center CEO, Alachua County Commissioner, and National Alliance on Mental Illness-Gainesville Chapter President. The Operational team includes invested leadership from Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Meridian Behavioral, University of Florida Police Department, National Alliance on Mental Illness, UF Health Shands Psychiatry, North Florida Regional Medical Center, Veterans Administration, DCF Forensics, Co-Responder teams, ACSO Department of the Jail, ACSO DOJ Medical, Research Consultants, Florida Department of Corrections, and Court Services Data / Programmers.
There were 5 months of delays in receiving final budget approval from both the US Department of the Treasury and the Bureau of Justice Assistance as a result of a new grants management system implemented in October 2020. Grant 2 makes possible the addition of a 2nd co-responder model (law enforcement officer and clinician ride along model to respond to mental health related calls) and forensic peer specialists to provide in/ outreach to peers in the criminal justice system while also guiding them through the legal processes with light case management as needed. The grant cycle 2 officially began on October 1, 2020 though, due the delays, began being charged on May 10, 2021. The County’s plan for Grant 2 also focuses on building on its wide array of partners to better coordinate care between the systems involved. Coordination between agencies and disciplines will be coordinated via JMHCP in efforts to create familiarity and open communication through regular meetings and developing a platform for effective discussion. Memorandums of Understanding, Business Associate Agreements, and Contracts are being developed for Project to define expectations as funds are now accessible. This effort is intended to leverage the current resources more efficiently and effectively for the benefit of all involved. The greatest benefit sought is to reduce the silo effect currently inhibiting full expression of the potential of the significant countywide resources.