Mental health and wellness is a major topic of discussion in todays society

The City of Bessemer, Alabama's Economic and Community Development Division was awarded a $596,196 Project Grant by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (CFDA 16.745). This 3-year grant aims to implement a collaborative approach to connect individuals suffering from mental health disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in the Bessemer community with appropriate mental health services. Key components include establishing a co-response team of mental health professionals and police officers, developing a law enforcement-mental health case management system, deploying a mobile crisis team, and implementing crisis resolution and home treatment services. This effort seeks to reduce negative interactions between individuals with mental health needs and law enforcement, ensure continuity of care, and maximize the use of police resources. The City of Bessemer is partnering with the Ryan Hope Foundation, local emergency dispatchers, EMS, and ambulance workers to carry out these grant-funded activities.

IT affects the homeless, children and adults of all ages, law enforcement officers, and the communities they serve. One (1) in five (5) americans are affected by mental illness in a given year, and out of that population, only 41 percent received mental health services in the past year. Bessemer police department (BPD) serves some 25,600 residents, and a large percentage of that population suffers from poor mental health. BPD is dedicated to getting the community the necessary services IT needs by partnering with ryan hope foundations mental health practitioners, local emergency dispatchers, and EMS and ambulance workers. BPD seeks to implement a collaborative approach with these partners to connect and deliver services to the community. This collaborative effort will consist of a CO-response team (CRT) with mental health professionals and bessemer police officers, a network of service providers, a law enforcement-mental health case management system, a mobile crisis team, a crisis resolution and home treatment team, and EMS and ambulance-based responses. These tactics will allow more individuals suffering from mental health disorders and mental health and substance use disorders to receive the proper mental health services, avoid negative interactions with the police, receive a continuum of care, and maximize the appropriation oflaw enforcement resources.