City of austin requests $200,000 for an austin police department (APD) pilot program to determine if low to moderate investments in training clinicians in emdr will result in greater access to…

The Community Oriented Policing Program within the Department of Justice awarded the City of Austin $200,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (CFDA 16.070) for an Austin Police Department pilot program in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy training and delivery.

The award funds EMDR training for 58 community-based clinicians who will provide mental health services to Austin Police Department officers, civilian employees, and their families. A contractor will deliver the EMDR training curriculum. Grant personnel will manage scheduling, track and report aggregate and survey data, and implement messaging to reduce stigma around mental health services among law enforcement. The primary deliverable is an implementation guide documenting APD's full recruitment, contracting, and training process for the 58 clinicians in EMDR therapy and law enforcement cultural competence. The guide will include recommendations for officer engagement, clinician engagement, contracting approaches, training protocols, coordination with peer support and wellness staff, session scheduling procedures, and confidentiality and trust maintenance practices.

Performance occurs in Austin, Texas 78701. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Extensions may be considered for up to 12 additional months upon approval by the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

City of austin requests $200,000 for an austin police department (APD) pilot program to determine if low to moderate investments in training clinicians in emdr will result in greater access to clinical support and the latest mental health therapy modalities for officers, civilian employees, and their families. A contractor will provide emdr training for 58 community-based therapists. Grant personnel will schedule the work, track and report data (aggregate and surveys), and provide positive and supportive messaging to reduce the stigma around mental health services. The project deliverable (an implementation guide) will document the full process undertaken by APD to recruit, contract, and train 58 community-based clinicians in emdr therapy and law enforcement cultural competence. IT will include guidance on officer engagement, clinician engagement, contracting, training recommendations, coordination with peer support and wellness staff, scheduling of sessions, and maintaining confidentiality and officer trust.