The proposed project will occur under the category 1: training program for law enforcementofficers (patrol based) solicitation

The Madera County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) was awarded a $250,000 Project Grant under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (CFDA 16.738) by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grant will be used to establish a formalized Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program and training regimen for MCSO law enforcement officers. The program will be based on the Memphis Model of CIT and involve collaboration between law enforcement, mental health providers, community organizations, families, and individuals to improve safety and connections to mental health services during crisis situations. The project will provide CIT training, deploy dedicated CIT coordinators and case managers, and deliver mental health services and continued support to individuals during and after law enforcement contacts. The overall goal is to improve safety, increase access to mental health treatment, and reduce trauma experienced by individuals in mental health crisis.

The project seeks to provide CIT training and will result in aformalized madera county crisis intervention team (CIT) program and training regimen by themadera county sheriff's office (mcso). The program will be based on the core elements of thememphis model of CIT and involve bringing key community partners from law enforcement, mental health providers, community-based organizations, families, and individuals to worktogether to collaboratively plan and implement training and patrol-based protocols. The program will result in improving the safety of both law enforcement and individuals with mental illness aswell as redirecting persons with mental illness from the judicial system to appropriate mentalhealth treatment. This project adds a new component to (or enhances) existing efforts by themcso to internally train law enforcement and first responder personnel in crisis responsestrategies. The project will be coordinated by a mcso sheriff's deputy CIT coordinator, withthe training component provided by a contracted mental health service provider. This contracted service provider will allocate at least two case managers and a clinician to provide appropriatetraining as well as patrol-based training with sheriff's deputies while on patrol. The serviceprovider will deliver mental health services, treatment, and continued support/case managementto consumers during and following law enforcement contacts. The overall intent of the proposedprogram is to improve safety during crisis calls for service; increase connections to effective andtimely mental health services for people in mental health crisis; strategically use madera countylaw enforcement personnel during crisis situations and increase the role of mental healthprofessionals, peer support specialists, and other community supports; reduce the trauma peopleexperience during a mental health crisis and contribute to long-term recovery.