Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $198,158)
The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) seeks to increase public safety through an innovative, cross-system, collaborative response to individuals with mental illness who come in contact with the criminal or juvenile justice systems. This program is funded through Public Law 111-8 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2009). The program is designed to increase public safety by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, and mental health and substance abuse treatment systems to increase access to services for offenders with mental illness. Activities under this initiative will encourage early intervention for 'system-involved' individuals with mental illness; provide new and existing mental health courts with various treatment options; maximize diversion opportunities for non-violent offenders with mental illness and co-occurring disorders; promote training for justice and treatment professionals on criminal justice processed and mental health and substance abuse issues; and facilitate communication, collaboration, and the delivery of support services among justice professionals, treatment and related service providers, and governmental partners.
The Saint Louis County Justice Services (SLCJS), along with BJC Behavioral Health and NAMI St. Louis, is requesting an Implementation and Expansion grant (Category 3) to provide release planning and follow-up services for offenders with mental illness, substance abuse, or dual diagnosis issues. The goal of the project is to build upon existing Jail Diversion and other community based services by implementing a process within the Justice Center to expand services to those incarcerated for municipal charges who are typically released within days of entry. The project will identify and engage individuals and offer services upon re-entry to the community, increasing the likelihood of extended engagement in community based treatment for mental health and substance abuse. The services will include identification, engagement, release planning, community support, treatment, medication management, and resource linkage as necessary.
CA/NCF