Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team Co-Responder Program

Project Abstract: FY 2022 Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Program

Name: Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team Co-Responder Program

Priority Considerations: The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team Co-Responder Program will promote effective strategies by law enforcement to identify and reduce the risk of harm to individuals with MHDs or co-occurring MHSUDs who encounter law enforcement and improve public safety, (see page 8 of proposal narrative).

Law Enforcement Lead Applicant: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Mental Health Partner Applicant: Eastway Behavioral Healthcare

Proposed number of individuals plan to serve: 640 individuals

Jurisdiction Population and demographic characteristics: 535,153 residents in Montgomery County. Montgomery County is the fifth-most populous county in Ohio; population per square mile - 1,159.5.

• 73% white, 21% African American, 6% all other races

• 6% Under 5 years, 16.5% 5-17, 10% 18-24, 25% 25-44, 27% 46-64, 15.5% 65 years +

• Unemployment rate 6%

• 16% of the population below the poverty line

• The median income for a household in the county was $43,965, and the median income for a family was $56,559

Plans to Address the Problem: To address the alarming number of individuals with mental illness in jail, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will continue its partnership with Eastway Behavioral Healthcare to develop and implement a Crisis Intervention Co-Responder Team (CIT) to link persons in crisis with appropriate community resources.

The goals of the Montgomery County CIT are aimed at reducing the number of individuals with mental illnesses being book into the jail by: 1) Reducing injuries to both law enforcement and citizens by promoting effective interactions between law enforcement and individuals in crisis through behavioral health education and de-escalation skills training; 2) connecting individuals in crisis with appropriate community resources to divert involvement with the criminal justice system thus reducing jail admissions for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis; 3) reducing calls of service involving mental health crises by improving access and linkages to community treatment and support; 4) reducing the stigma associated with mental disorders and promoting dignity and respect for individuals with behavioral health disorders

Federal Funding Requested: $384,000

Previous Recipient of Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response grant funding: No