FY25Q1 Engagement Activities
Met and corresponded with grantee 4 times between October 1, 2024-December 31, 2024 on the following dates
10/9/24 - Email follow up from our check in call
10/23/24 - Email sent about PTACC
11/12/24 - Email sent about RHAPSODI funding
12/3/24 - Email sent about JCOIN funding
Summary of Resources Provided
Deflection Conversation Framework Modules
CHJ-TASC_Pathways_to_Diversion_Active_Outreach (1).pdf
Pathways_to_Diversion_Case_Studies_Series_Naloxone_Plus (1).pdf
CHJ-TASC_Pathways_to_Deflection_First_Responder_and_Officer_Referral (1).pdf
CHJ_Pathways_to_Diversion_Self-Referral (1).pdf
Pathways_to_Diversion_Case_Studies_Series_Officer_Intervention (1).pdf
TASC_Six_Pathways_Framework_for_Implementing_Deflection_June_2023 (1).pdf
RHAPSODI Funding Opportunity.pdf
Request for Proposals
Reimagining Health and Public Safety Overdose Initiatives
(RHAPSODI)
2024-2025
Date of release: October 28, 2024
JCOIN Rapid Innovation Grant (J-RIG) Program
Summary of Suggestions for further TA/next steps
Continue regularly scheduled TA engagement and coaching
Waiting for BJA response regarding whether we are the right TA provider
CHJ-TASC_Pathways_to_Diversion_Active_Outreach (1).pdf
First responders are on the front lines of the battle against
substance use disorders (SUDs), responding to calls for
service involving individuals with SUDs and frequently
responding to overdoses. To this end, a variety of law
enforcement and fire/emergency medical services (EMS)-
led deflection programs have emerged across the country.
In partnership with SUD treatment providers, peers, and
recovery personnel, these multidisciplinary programs are
helping to reduce overdoses by facilitating connections to
community-based treatment and services.
Law enforcement and first responder deflection programs
provide pivotal opportunities to redirect individuals with
SUDs, mental health disorders (MHDs), and co-occurring
disorders away from placement in jails or emergency
departments and, instead, connect them to community-
based treatment for substance use, mental health services,
recovery support, and housing and social services. These
programs are referred to differently as “deflection,”
“law enforcement/police-assisted diversion,” “crisis
intervention,” “pre-arrest diversion,” or “pre-booking
diversion.” Whereas in previous case studies, the practice
was referred to as “first responder diversion,” in this case
study and in forthcoming ones, it will be referred to as
“deflection.” The philosophy behind all first responder
Active Outreach Pathway
deflection programs is based on peer-reviewed science
affirming that addiction is a treatable, chronic disease of the
brain,1 not a moral failing, and that in order to stop drug-
seeking behaviors that accompany addiction, the disease
itself must be treated.
Six Pathways for Law Enforcement
and First Responder Deflection to
Treatment, Recovery, Housing, and
Services
There are six frameworks or “pathways”2 of first responder
deflection, each of which addresses specific public safety
challenges faced by first responders, in their communities.
These six approaches to connecting people to treatment
through first responders are referred to as pathways,
because, in contrast to other justice system interventions
where individuals are mandated to attend treatment, first
responders instead offer access, or pathways, to community-
based treatment and resources through proactive outreach
and support to individuals in need. The spectrum of the six
pathways offers an alternative to traditional enforcement
methods for individuals coping with SUDs, MHDs, or co-
occurring disorders that may necessitate contact with police
or other first responders.
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP)
Law Enforcement and First Responder Deflection
Pathways to Deflection Case Studies Series December 2022
Pathways_to_Diversion_Case_Studies_Series_Naloxone_Plus (1).pdf
Law enforcement officers and other first responders,
such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and
paramedics, are on the front line of addressing illicit
substance use and misuse, and responding to frequent drug
overdoses and calls for services involving individuals’ co-
occurring mental illness and substance abuse. In response, a
variety of law enforcement-led diversion and fire/emergency
medical services (EMS)-led responses (first-responder
diversion [FRD]) to the opioid crisis have emerged across the
country. In partnership with treatment, peers, and recovery
personnel, these multidisciplinary programs are helping to
reduce overdoses through connection to community-based
treatment. Law enforcement and first-responder diversion
program models provide a pivotal opportunity to redirect
individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), including
opioid use disorders (OUDs) and co-occurring disorders,
away from placement in jails or emergency departments,
instead connecting them to community-based substance
use, mental health, recovery support, housing, and social
services.
Naloxone Plus
Five Pathways for First-Responder
Diversion to Treatment, Recovery,
Housing, and Services
The spectrum of the
five pathways1 of first-
responder diversion
offers an alternative to
traditional enforcement
methods for individuals
with an SUD or the
dilemma of having
to wait for an acute
behavioral health crisis
to necessitate contact
with first responders.
These five approaches to connecting people to treatment
through first responders are referred to as pathways,
because in contrast to other criminal justice interventions
where individuals are mandated to attend treatment,
first responders are offering voluntary access through
proactive outreach and support to individuals in need. First
responder diversion (FRD) is a way to turn these encounters
into opportunities to connect individuals with treatment,
recovery support, housing, and social services.
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP)
Law Enforcement and First Responder Diversion
Pathways to Diversion Case Studies Series
Five Pathways
Self-Referral
Active Outreach
Naloxone Plus
Officer/First
Responder Prevention
Officer Intervention
CHJ-TASC_Pathways_to_Deflection_First_Responder_and_Officer_Referral (1).pdf
First responders are on the front lines of the battle against
substance use disorder (SUD), responding to calls for
service involving individuals with or affected by SUD. These
calls frequently include overdose incidents. In response, a
variety of law enforcement-, fire-services, and emergency
medical services (EMS)-led responses have emerged
across the country. Implemented in partnership with SUD
treatment providers, peers, and recovery personnel, these
multidisciplinary programs are helping to reduce overdoses
by facilitating connections to community-based treatment
and services.
Law enforcement and first responder deflection programs
provide pivotal opportunities to redirect individuals with
SUDs, mental health disorders (MHDs), and co-occurring
disorders away from placement in jails or emergency
departments and, instead, connect them to community-
based substance misuse treatment, mental health services,
and recovery support as well as support services, such
as housing and food assistance. These programs may be
known by different names across jurisdictions, including law
enforcement/police-assisted diversion, crisis intervention,
pre-arrest diversion, deflection, or pre-booking diversion. In
this case study, law enforcement- and fire-service/EMS-led
responses will be referred to as “first responder deflection.”
The philosophy behind all first responder deflection
First Responder and Officer Referral Pathway
programs is based on peer-reviewed science affirming that
addiction is a treatable, chronic disease of the brain,1 not a
moral failing, and that to stop the drug-seeking behaviors
that accompany addiction, the disease itself must be
treated.
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP)
Law Enforcement and First Responder Deflection
Pathways to Deflection Case Studies Series September 2023
Six Pathways of Deflection to
Treatment, Services, and Recovery
There are six frameworks or pathways2 of deflection, each
of which addresses specific public health and public safety
challenges faced by communities. These six approaches to
connecting people to treatment are referred to as pathways
because, in contrast to justice system interventions in
which individuals are mandated to attend treatment, first
responders and community response teams are instead
offering access, or pathways, to community-based treatment
and resources through proactive outreach and support
to individuals in need. The spectrum of the six pathways
offers an alternative to traditional enforcement methods
of responding to individuals coping with SUDs, MHDs, or
co-occurring disorders that may necessitate contact with law
enforcement officers or other first responders.
The six pathways to treatment through first responder
deflection are described below. This brief focuses on the
First Responder and Officer Referral Pathway.
CHJ_Pathways_to_Diversion_Self-Referral (1).pdf
Law enforcement officers and other first responders,
such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and
paramedics, are on the front lines of the illicit substance
abuse epidemic, frequently responding to drug overdoses
and calls for services involving individuals with substance
use and co-occurring disorders. In response, a variety of
law enforcement-led diversion and fire/emergency medical
services (EMS)-led responses1 have emerged across the
country. In partnership with substance use disorder (SUD)
treatment providers, peers, and recovery personnel,
these multidisciplinary programs are helping to reduce
overdoses by connecting individuals to community-based
treatment. Law enforcement and first-responder diversion
program models represent a pivotal opportunity to redirect
individuals with SUDs, mental health disorders (MHDs),
and co-occurring disorders away from jails or emergency
departments and toward community-based treatment for
substance use, mental health services, recovery support,
housing, and social services.
Self-Referral Pathway
Five Pathways for Law
Enforcement and First-Responder
Diversion to Treatment, Recovery,
Housing, and Services
There are five frameworks
or
pathways2 of first-
responder diversion,
each aimed at addressing
specific public safety
challenges faced by
police departments and
first responders in their
communities. These five
approaches are referred
to as “pathways,”
because in contrast to
other criminal justice interventions by which individuals
are mandated to attend treatment, first responders offer
pathways to community-based treatment and resources
through proactive outreach and support to individuals in
need. The spectrum of the “Five Pathways to Community”
offers an alternative to traditional enforcement methods
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP)
Law Enforcement and First Responder Diversion
Pathways to Diversion Case Studies Series
Five Pathways
Self-Referral
Active Outreach
Naloxone Plus
Officer/First-
Responder Prevention
Officer Intervention
Pathways_to_Diversion_Case_Studies_Series_Officer_Intervention (1).pdf
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP)
Law Enforcement and First Responder Diversion
Pathways to Diversion Case Studies Series
Law enforcement officers and other first responders,
such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and
paramedics, are on the front line of addressing illicit
substance use and misuse and responding to frequent
drug overdoses and calls for services involving
individuals with substance use and co-occurring
disorders. In response, a variety of law enforcement-
led diversion and fire/emergency medical services
(EMS)-led responses1 to the opioid crisis have emerged
across the country. In partnership with substance use
disorder (SUD) treatment providers, peers, and
recovery personnel, these multidisciplinary programs
are helping to reduce overdoses through connection
to community-based treatment. Law enforcement
and first responder diversion program models provide
a pivotal opportunity to redirect individuals with SUD,
mental health disorders (MHD), and co-occurring
disorders away from placement in jails or emergency
departments, and instead connect them to
community-based treatment for substance use, mental
health services, recovery support, housing, and social
services.
Five Pathways for Law
Enforcement and First Responder
Diversion to Treatment, Recovery,
Housing, and Services
There are five frameworks or pathways2 of first responder
diversion (FRD), each of which is aimed at addressing
specific public safety
challenges faced by
police departments and
first responders in their
communities. These five
approaches to connecting
people to treatment through
first responders are referred
to as “pathways,” because
in contrast to other criminal
justice interventions where
individuals are mandated
to attend treatment, first
responders are instead
offering pathways or access to community-based
treatment and resources through proactive outreach and
support to individuals in need. The spectrum of the
“Five Pathways to Community” offers an alternative to
traditional enforcement methods for individuals coping
with SUD, MHD, or co-occurring disorders that may
necessitate contact with police or other first responders.
Officer Intervention
Five Pathways
• Self-Referral
• Active
Outreach
• Naloxone
Plus
• Officer/First
Responder
Prevention
• Officer
Intervention
CHJ-TASC_Six_Pathways_Framework_for_Implementing_Deflection_June_2023 (1).pdf
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