FY 2009 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

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.

PACT 4 Families Collaborative, along with partners in juvenile justice, mental health, family services, public health, and substance abuse treatment, will use fiscal year 2009 JMHCP funds to support planning efforts aimed at expanding and improving appropriate comprehensive and accessible services for corrections-involved youth with mental illness/co-occurring disorders living in four rural counties in west central Minnesota. It is anticipated the grant funded efforts will result in a seamless approach to working with identified youth to ensure each is supported by a system that is responsive to their needs and the needs of their families, while also impacting the well being of the community.

CA/NCF