Friday, May 3, 2024
5/3/2024
The Meriden Early Diversion, Referral, and Retention (MEDRR) project will result in a duplicable model for early diversion by law enforcement to behavioral health treatment and/or services that will keep clients living in central Connecticut’s Middlesex and New Haven Counties from becoming justice involved. The City’s first responders, including the local ambulance company, fire department, and police department, will identify clients for diversion through a brief screening process and refer them to Rushford Center. Rushford is the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) and addictions treatment center serving central Connecticut, however, Rushford accepts clients from outside the region as well. In alignment with the state’s effort to reduce the prison population in Connecticut, this project will help persons with behavioral health diagnoses to find an alternative to incarceration through recovery from mental illness and/or SUD. The Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnership (LEBHP) formed to guide the project will increase access to behavioral healthcare and supports for persons encountering law enforcement in the City of Meriden using a model that will be replicated across portions of Middlesex and New Haven Counties through dissemination of the model to interested law enforcement agencies. Grant support for this project will assist in the diffusion of the model through the provision of staffing to develop and test the framework and through the provision of clinical services for project participants. Ultimately, MEDRR will enhance immediate access to high-quality behavioral health treatment and services to reduce the number of arrests for individuals diagnosed with SMI or COD and enable evidenced based treatment options in the community that focus on recovery and intervention, to divert justice involved persons to treatment. Additionally, through innovative treatment options, MEDRR will reduce the high-risk behaviors of individuals with SMI or COD that may contribute to involvement with the justice system. This project reduces recidivism by providing access to client-centered and recovery oriented wrap-around services and allows for enhanced coordination to help deliver more resources to support the health of the community and reduce the adverse impact of incarceration on individuals with behavioral health disorders. MEDRR will seek the input of consumers, families, youth, and others that may be targeted by this project and organizations representing their interests will be invited to participate in LEBHP meetings in order to guide the effort. Consumers, families, youth, and other service populations may receive training and related support necessary for them to contribute in a meaningful way.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
