Mental Health Providers

The Fidelity Assessment Instrument was developed in order to operationalize the standards set forth in the Promising Practices Guidelines (PPGs). The instrument is divided into the same section sections and components as contained in the PPGs. The instrument scores how programs meet each component as set forth in the PPGs. The outcome of the FAI process is a report that scores how programs align with the PPGs and provides individualized recommendations for further training and technical assistance where gaps or shortcomings are identified.

Over the past decade, communities and first responders have successfully worked together to establish sustainable, effective alternatives to arrest for people with substance use disorder through the implementation of deflection initiatives. In tandem, the law enforcement community has also acknowledged the high importance of incorporating racial equity practices in order to better serve communities experiencing the highest rates of overdose and drug-related arrests.

The 2023 Police, Treatment, and Community (PTACC) Deflection and Pre-Arrest Diversion Training Summit was held in Seattle, Washington on October 28-November 1, 2024. Over 400 people attended the summit, including COSSUP grantees. Attendees and presenters included law enforcement officers and other first responders, behavioral health practitioners, community-based service providers, deflection program managers, researchers, and officials from the local, state, and national levels.

TLPI's Tribal Justice TTA project includes Objective 6: Conduct THWC Survey of the Field (Wellness Court Strengths and Needs Assessment) and publish findings with associated tasks to prepare, disseminate, analyze, and publish results. Planning meetings occurred this reporting period to determine what measures need to be included and ensure this assessment is not a duplication of other efforts in the field. A draft has been completed.

These calls are an opportunity for grantees to check-in with us at CHJ, meet other grantees, and learn about topics related to deflection and pre-arrest diversion initiatives. Invited are CHJ's open FY19-23 deflection and pre-arrest diversion grantees. After a brief introduction to the CHJ team and our TTA support, we were joined by two presenters, one from fellow COSSUP TTA provider, the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) and another, Captain Kevin Hunter, from the Fort Wayne police department.

TLPI's Tribal Justice TTA project includes Objective 5: Develop publications with Task 5.1 to Develop or update four publications. Significant progress was made this reporting period for the first update to the THWC: Tribal Ten Key Components. Work on 3 additional updated or new resources will continue next reporting period.

These newsletters are distributed by email at the beginning of every month and highlight upcoming CHJ grantee cohort events (like office hours, quarterly and focus area calls) and provide new resources, or recordings and resources that were mentioned on previous cohort calls. These newsletters also include products or upcoming events from COSSUP and its other TTA providers, and relevant federal resources.

At the IACP 2024 Annual Conference in Boston, MA, the team presented three Quick Hits to live audiences on a variety of crisis response topics: "Crisis Intervention Involving People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities"; "Policing and Behavioral Health Partnerships"; 'What is CRIT: Curriculum Tools to Save Your Agency Valuable Time".

CHJ Office Hours take place every 3rd Friday of the month. These Office Hours are meant for sites to come and ask any questions or concerns that they may have. There will be members of the CHJ team, with appearances from various subject matter experts or other COSSUP TTA providers, present for the duration of the call to assist with any topics/questions that are brought up. Any site can join throughout the hour to speak with the CHJ team.

Development of and delivery of a pilot train the trainer (TTT) program to develop a cadre of trainers who are prepared to deliver the CRIT curriculum to officers in their agencies. TTT hosted by Michigan State police in Lansing, MI from July 30 - August 1.