The city of vallejo police department (VPD) integrated health and resource team (IHART) expansion project proposes to provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year mobile crisis response to…

The City of Vallejo Police Department (VPD) was awarded a $550,000 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). The grant funding will support the expansion of VPD's Integrated Health and Resource Team (IHART) to provide 24/7 mobile crisis response for Vallejo residents experiencing mental health or behavioral health crises. Key activities include designing and deploying an Assertive Community Treatment-like service model, educating family members and caregivers on serious mental illness and substance use disorders, and enhancing officer and IHART staff knowledge and skills in these areas. The grant aims to reduce police calls for service and address VPD's significant staffing shortages, as the department is currently operating at less than 50% of its authorized capacity. This collaborative initiative between the criminal justice and mental health systems is intended to improve public safety responses and outcomes for individuals with mental health disorders in Vallejo, California.

The city of vallejo police department (VPD) integrated health and resource team (IHART) expansion project proposes to provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year mobile crisis response to residents of vallejo, california experiencing mental and/or behavioral health crises, reducing calls for service requiring police presence to address a chronically understaffed police department. Since july 2023, vallejo has been in a state of emergency due to vpds immense staffing shortages. VPD is operating at less than 50% of its authorized capacity: IT has gone from 137 officers in 1991 to 62 officers in 2024 (132 authorized, only 73 sworn in place, 11 of which are on long-term disability/modified duty). This shortage is compounded by high rates of violent crime. Vallejo is continuously ranked one of californias most dangerous cities, with crime rates 96% higher than national average. VPD receives about 185 911 calls daily. Primary activities include expanding IHART to achieve 24 hour, 365 operations; designing, developing, and deploying an assertive community treatment-like model; educate family members and caregivers of those with serious mental illness (SMI) /substance use disorders (SUDS); and enhancing officer and IHART staff knowledge and skills in SMI/SUD treatment. There are no planned conference activities for the recommended award.