Oakland County Receives $275,370 Grant: Mental Health Jail Diversion Initiative

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI (Dec. 16, 2014) -- Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) is receiving a $275,370 Jail Diversion grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) on January 1, 2015. OCCMHA will use the funds to implement a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program and train 80 Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies.

The CIT program is a nationally recognized, community partnership between law enforcement and mental health professionals. It is strategically designed to promote positive outcomes during crisis situations that require police assistance.

“As the lead for community mental health services in Oakland County, OCCMHA has a responsibility to ensure that valuable training resources are available to local law enforcement,” said OCCMHA Executive Director and CEO, Willie Brooks. “The CIT grant is helping us fulfill this obligation by providing timely and important training experiences to officers, so that they are better prepared to serve people in crisis.”

Deputies who participate in CIT will receive 40 hours of comprehensive mental health training, which includes information about mental illness and developmental disabilities, opportunities to speak with advocates, individuals with mental illness and their families, and participation in role-playing scenarios.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the country that utilize CIT have seen significant reductions in the number of officer and personal injuries, as well as a decrease in arrest rates. Other benefits inspired by CIT include improved community relationships between officers, persons with mental illness, and their families, de-stigmatization of individuals with mental illness, and increased officer recognition and appreciation.

“Our long-standing partnership with OCCMHA has served as the foundation for many initiatives that enhance the Sheriff Office’s ability to serve people who are in crisis, especially individuals with a mental illness,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “Bringing CIT to Oakland County is just one more example of our commitment to work together for the betterment of our community.”

CIT originated in Memphis, Tennessee in 1987. Kalamazoo and St. Joseph are the only communities that have CIT programs in Michigan.

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 27,000 Oakland County residents, including adults and children with developmental disabilities; adults with serious mental illness or substance use disorders; and children with serious emotional disturbance.

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.

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