The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recently announced the creation of the Law Enforcement/First Responder Diversion Mentor Program, scheduled to begin on October 1, 2019. Part of the training and technical assistance (TTA) resources available through BJA’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP), this program will provide local jurisdictions interested in launching a diversion program with the opportunity to learn from established programs that have successfully worked to meet their communities’ treatment needs.
BJA’s COAP TTA provider Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, Inc. will facilitate the selection of mentor sites to serve as models for individuals and teams interested in learning innovative practices for starting a diversion program. After selecting mentor sites, BJA will implement a process for communities to apply online to visit one of the mentor programs, as well as support the travel of up to three individuals from the requesting community to observe the mentor site.
Learn more and submit an application to COAP@iir.com by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 10, 2019 to serve as a mentor site in the Law Enforcement/First Responder Diversion Mentor Program. The application form contains additional information about law enforcement/first responder diversion, the purpose of BJA’s new program, and important dates related to the selection process.