Starry, INC. Proposes the implementation of operation connected response

This Cooperative Agreement award of $523,233 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (CFDA 16.540 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) funds the implementation of "Operation Connected Response" by Starry, Inc., a non-profit organization in Georgetown, Texas. The program aims to equip law enforcement officers across Texas with the knowledge and skills to effectively and compassionately interact with individuals, particularly minority youth, who have experienced trauma. Through in-person and virtual training as well as ongoing technical assistance, the program seeks to enhance officers' understanding of trauma's impact, shift perspectives to address root causes, and improve outcomes for trauma survivors, community members, and law enforcement alike. Expected outcomes include a decrease in racial disparities in the Texas juvenile justice system, enhanced officer abilities to recognize and respond to trauma, reduced incident escalation and use of force, improved trust between law enforcement and communities, and a cultural shift towards trauma-informed policing. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The purpose of this program is to equip law enforcement officers across the state of texas with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively and compassionately interact with individuals who have experienced trauma, specifically minority youth, while also being aware of and navigating the effects of their own trauma history and trauma response. This program aims to enhance officers understanding of traumas impact on behavior and mental health, shift perspective to understanding root causes of behaviors as unmet needs, and effectively address situations they may encounter in the community. By fostering a trauma-informed approach to policing, this initiative seeks to improve outcomes for survivors of trauma, community members and law enforcement officers alike, and strengthen community relations. Operation connected response will be an innovative and comprehensive training and technical assistance program supporting law enforcement officers and their work settings to learn and implement trauma-informed care internally and externally. Highly trained staff for this program include tbri practitioners, near science trainers, licensed masters of social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and a texas commission on law enforcement certified instructor. Skills and knowledge will be taught through in-person and virtual training. Technical assistance will include ongoing support by way of consultation, observation, problem solving, trauma informed care (TIC) organizational assessments, and implementation planning as requested in each jurisdiction served. Expected outcomes include: a decrease in racial and ethnic disparities within the texas juvenile justice system, an enhanced ability of officers to recognize and respond to trauma (resulting in more supportive interactions with trauma survivors), a reduction in the escalation of incidents and use of force in encounters involving trauma survivors, improved trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and a fostered safe and more cohesive environment. Expected outcomes aim to a long-term cultural shift within law enforcement agencies to move towards a trauma-informed approach humanizing all individuals mitigating the negative effects of systemic bias and improve outcomes for all youth, regardless of their race or ethnicity.