Requested grant funding will support the hiring of term limited mental health professionals (mhps) to support the king county sheriffs office crisis intervention team (CIT)/CO-responder program

This federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.753 Congressionally Recommended Awards) provides $963,000 to the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) to support the hiring of term-limited mental health professionals (MHPs) for the KCSO Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and Co-Responder Program. The MHPs will serve as subject matter experts to assist KCSO in addressing mental health service needs for emergent and non-emergent calls involving law enforcement. Additionally, the funding will cover overtime costs for KCSO to train law enforcement officers on utilizing the specialized services of the MHPs. This grant award, with a performance period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, is part of the Congressionally Recommended Awards program, which aims to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and assist victims of crime.

Mhps offer a specialized service that will assist the king county sheriffs office fulfill the public safety need to address mental health services necessary for emergent and non-emergent calls that involve law enforcement. Kcso mhps will serve as subject matter experts who will work within the comprehensive kcso CIT/CO-responder program. The king county sheriffs office (kcso) is also requesting funding to support overtime associated with training law enforcement officers about the specialized services mental health professionals offer and how best to utilize those services for the areas of service to assist residents in king county, washington.