May 23, 2019

Stepping Up Launches Interactive Repository of Programs, Policies, and Practices

The Strategy Lab is a new interactive tool that features more than 100 examples from jurisdictions across the country of people working to reduce the number of people with serious mental illnesses in their jails. The tool was created for Stepping Up project coordinators as well as state and local government officials, policymakers, and researchers, among others, to guide the creation of cross-systems, data-informed strategies along four key measures. These measures are: (1) reduce bookings into jail, (2) reduce length of stay, (3) increase connection to treatment, and (4) reduce recidivism.

Users can access the Strategy Lab to search through interventions by their relevance to each of the four key measures; whether the intervention is a program, policy, or practice; categories such as behavioral health, courts, crisis services, housing, jail, law enforcement, pretrial, project coordination, and reentry; or a combination of all three. The database will be updated every six months to reflect new programs, progress, and changes in the field.  To access the strategy lab, please click here.

Also, the Stepping Up Initiative will host a Month of Action Twitter Chat to discuss how counties are creating and implementing data-driven plans to address this important issue on Thursday, May 30, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

Participation is easy! @NACoTweets will guide the discussion with a series of questions labeled Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. Respond to the questions using the hashtag #StepUp4MentalHealth and the corresponding answer label (A1, A2, A3, etc.). Follow #StepUp4MentalHealth to engage with your peers during the discussion.  To learn more about the twitter chat, please click here.

Apply Now for Federal Funding Opportunities

Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

This grant program supports cross-system collaboration to improve responses to and outcomes for people with mental illnesses or co-occurring mental illnesses and substance addictions who come into contact with the justice system. Application is open to states, units of local government, and tribal governments that demonstrate that the project will be administered jointly with a criminal or juvenile justice agency and a mental health agency. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.  Applications are due by June 25. For additional information, please click here.

Improving Reentry for Adults with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

This program provides funding to state and local government agencies and federally recognized Native American tribes to improve reentry services and programs for people with co-occurring substance addictions and mental illnesses who are leaving incarceration. Specifically, its goal is to improve access to and delivery of standardized screening and assessment, collaborative comprehensive case management, and pre- and post-release programming that addresses criminogenic risk and needs, including treatment and services that address mental illness and substance addiction. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Applications are due by June 25. For additional information, please click here.