Discussion:
The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) supports cross-system collaboration to improve public safety responses and outcomes for individuals with mental health disorders (MHDs) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs) who come into contact with the justice system. This program supports public safety efforts through partnerships with mental health, substance use, social services, and other organizations that will enhance responses to people with MHDs and MHSUDs.
JMHCP offers grants to help entities prepare, create, or expand comprehensive plans to implement collaboration programs that target preliminarily qualified individuals and promote public safety and public health for people with MHDs and MHSUDs who come in contact with the justice system.
The Shakopee Police Department (SPD) would like to apply for a JMHCP grant to hire a Social Services Co-responder to assist officers on duty with MHD and/or MHSUD calls. The SPD would house the Co-responder who would ride along on mental health calls and help facilitate resources for those individuals in hopes of improving services and reducing calls for service.