FY 2021 COSSAP - Project Hope

Project Hope is an evidence-based initiative focused on building trust in the community along with reducing substance use addiction to opioids/methamphetamine. Project Hope will benefit juveniles and adults in the City of Menomonie and Dunn County, Wisconsin.  Juveniles and adults will benefit through Project Hope’s strategies that provide alternatives to arrest and direct impacted individuals to treatment opportunities. Any resident of Dunn County, Wisconsin could participate in one or more of Project Hope’s initiatives.

Project Hope uses four strategic pillars that make up the foundation of the program.  The strategic pillars are Prevention, Treatment, Harm Reduction and Enforcement.  Each pillar consists of various programs and initiatives.  Some of the initiatives include the evidence-based Botvin LifeSkills program for juveniles, the formation of a Quick Response Team (QRT), instituting a juvenile diversion program, removal of zero-tolerance policing strategies, incorporating case management systems, an amnesty program (Angels of Red Cedar) focused on providing treatment opportunities, creation of a sworn behavioral health officer position, incorporating software analytics to identify potential clients in need of treatment, and mentoring services for juveniles.

Project Hope’s strength comes from the collaborative partnerships that were formed and will be utilized throughout the various initiatives.  The collective approach demonstrates to the community a commitment to providing equitable outcomes aimed at helping people improve their quality of life.  Through repeated outreach efforts and collaborative efforts our community will increase its trust of the police and local government.  Thus, allowing for even greater collaborative efforts in the future while improving an individual’s ability to be a productive member of society.

The City of Menomonie has already funded portions of Project Hope with support from our community partners.  The COSSAP grant will help Project Hope realize its full potential by implementation of various initiatives that are shown to build trust and reduce addition to opioids and methamphetamines.