OCCMHA Grows Mental Health Partnerships with Law Enforcement

Since January 2016, 15 Oakland County police departments have signed service coordination agreements with Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA). OCCMHA also has a long-standing coordination agreement with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

“Collaboration between OCCMHA and law enforcement helps to create the best possible outcomes for the entire community,” explains Willie Brooks, executive director and CEO of OCCMHA. “Through these partnerships, we are able to divert non-violent individuals from jail during a mental health crisis and ensure that they receive the treatment they need.”

Local law enforcement agencies that sign the agreement agree to participate in Jail Diversion training to ensure their officers are knowledgeable regarding the option of diverting individuals with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities to mental health treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Local police departments that have signed the agreement this year include:

Auburn Hills

Beverly Hills

Bloomfield Hills

Bloomfield Township

Ferndale

Franklin/Bingham Farms

Huntington Woods

Novi

Oxford

Rochester

Royal Oak

Troy

Waterford

West Bloomfield

Wixom

“We are especially grateful for the role local law enforcement play in connecting Oakland County residents to valuable mental health services,” says Cathie Yunker, administrator of Access and Acute Care. “Our goal for the future, of course, includes securing signed agreements with local police departments representing all Oakland County communities.”

As part of the agreement, OCCMHA provides annual cross training to law enforcement agencies on the Jail Diversion process. They also provide technical assistance to officers in the areas of: cross-system collaboration, mental health training, and consultation regarding issues related to jail diversion policies, procedures, or specific cases.

About OCCMHA

Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,000 Oakland County residents, including individuals with intellectual/developmental

disabilities, adults with mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals have Medicaid.

OCCMHA’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easter Seals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCCMHA’s website. For more information about OCCMHA call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.occmha.org.