Connect and Protect: Enhancing LAPD’s Approach to Mental Health Issues

This proposal from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) seeks grant funds to enhance its collaboration to focus on high-frequency utilizers with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems. The project will be housed in LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit, a nationally recognized program that involves a law enforcement-mental health co-response to the mentally ill.

The first year involves the planning process where data will be used to drive strategic decision making. In Years 2 and 3, the plan will be implemented by a team from the LAPD, LACDMH and Research Partner, Justice & Security Strategies, Inc.

Based on successful programs and research, the project will focus efforts on high-frequency utilizers (HFU) -- those persons who come in contact with police officer’s multiple times and are ‘super users’ of services. Importantly, four program-specific priority areas are addressed in this proposal:

Form a MEU Planning Group to develop and implement a strategic plan
Collect and use appropriate data to identify, select, and proactively assist high-frequency utilizers of criminal justice and mental health services in Los Angeles.
Implement collaborative treatment programs that affect qualified individuals and
Evaluate the effectiveness of the program

Deliverables will include an implementation plan, an interim evaluation report, and a final evaluation report.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health are the lead applicants. The grant requests $550,000 in federal funding.

The LAPD has not been a previous recipient of JMHCP grant funds.