diversion

The Bureau of Justice Assistance leadership, in collaboration with the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program team, invites you to this no-cost webinar on August 29, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Emergency medical services (EMS) can be essential partners in early diversion responses for individuals in crisis. This webinar will focus on the ways that fire departments and EMS can be partners with behavioral health providers and other first responders on early diversion initiatives. Medical clearance will also be explored as part of this webinar.

Hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Gather, Assess, Integrate, Network, and Stimulate Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation.

Many early diversion strategies rely upon cooperation between law enforcement officers and mental health professionals to manage crisis encounters. However, on-scene cooperation depends on stakeholder collaboration and clear protocols for how to handle a variety of situations. This webinar will spotlight jurisdictions that have established effective joint responses to mental health crises and provide participants with guidance for their own communities.

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.