Action 12.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
County Sheriff
- Meeting Date:
- 07/26/2022
- Title:
- Mental Health Support Team
- Submitted By:
- Robert Watkins, County Sheriff
- Department:
- County Sheriff
Presentation:
PowerPoint
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
2
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Robert Watkins
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Operations Commander
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
You will use this Agenda Item template if your item involves a Grant (whether a new or renewal grant). You also must attach the Grant Approval Form to the item before Finance will approve it. Select the SPECIAL LINKS on your left-hand menu and Click on "Grant Approval Form". Then complete the form, save it and attach it to your item (on the Attachments tab).
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve Grant Agreement between the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona and the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, in the amount of $1,263,449, effective from date of signing for a period of three years, to fully fund the creation and implementation of the Cochise County Mental Health Support Team.
Background:
To better address the epidemic of Mental Illness in Cochise County, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office sought a grant to fund the creation of a Mental Health Support Team. The mission of this team is multi-faceted and will, amongst other things, include: (1) responding to incidents where persons are experiencing mental crises and deescalating those events: (2) taking a proactive approach in identifying those suffering from mental illness and providing them with existing programs and resources to address their mental illness; (3) teaching Crisis Intervention Techniques/deescalation tactics to regional law enforcement officers; (4) providing mental health support to local schools; (5) transporting individuals to in-patient treatment facilities; and (6) teaching suicide prevention classes.
This program will be fully funded as a result of generous financial support from the Legacy Foundation of Southeastern Arizona. The funds will be disbursed in the following manner:
1) $497,338.00 immediately following BOS approval.
2) $383,056.00 one year after signed (presumably July of 2023).
3) $383,056.00 two years after signed (presumably July of 2024).
This program will be fully funded as a result of generous financial support from the Legacy Foundation of Southeastern Arizona. The funds will be disbursed in the following manner:
1) $497,338.00 immediately following BOS approval.
2) $383,056.00 one year after signed (presumably July of 2023).
3) $383,056.00 two years after signed (presumably July of 2024).
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Upon board approval, CCSO will collaborate with Human Resources to hire three licensed Behavioral Health Professionals and one Detention Officer who will transport patients to in-patient treatment centers. Additionally, CCSO will collaborate with Fleet to purchase the two fully funded Chevrolet Tahoes for used by the Mental Health Support Team.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
It is difficult to quantify the adverse effects of not approving this grant. I would say that obtaining a private donation for the funding of such is unheard of and CCSO would most likely never have the opportunity to fund such a unit through outside funding again. Our current practice of merely responding to events when a person is in crisis is proving inadequate and ineffective, in addition to being resource intensive. Our current practice does nothing to address the root cause of mental illness. Eventually a catastrophic event will transpire which will cause Cochise County to fund a similar team by cutting resources elsewhere.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
The Chairwoman of the Board sign two copies of the Grant. The Grant is then returned to the Legacy Foundation to be signed.