Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Project Abstract – Rhode Island Early Diversion Project The Rhode Island Early Diversion project will implement a direct transfer approach for law enforcement to divert individuals affected by mental health or cooccurring substance use disorders from arrest to services. Police may transport individuals to the Behavioral Health Link (BH Link) assessment and triage center or request on-site assistance. BH Link will provide short term crisis stabilization services and make connections to treatment and recovery services. The Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnership comprised of stakeholders and consumers will be convened by BHDDH to provide input on approaches and strategies for achieving the goals of the project which are to: (1) Improve partnerships and policies that support law enforcement to respond to individuals with mental illness and co-occurring disorders (2) Increase knowledge and skills of local law enforcement to respond to individuals with mental illness and co-occurring disorders and conduct warm handoffs to the treatment and recovery support system of care (3) Increase appropriate health care referrals of persons with mental illness and co-occurring disorders that are encountered by police and referred to the state’s assessment and triage center, BH Link Clinical and support services to be provided include Assertive Community Treatment, Medication Treatment, Evaluation and Management, Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders, Illness Management and Recovery Support services including case management and peer support services. Engagement in services will be monitored at 3 months, 6 months, and one year after diversion. A Law Enforcement Liaison will be contracted to engage police departments to refer to BH Link and to take the One Mind pledge to implement 4 promising practices over a 12-36 month period that includes formalizing partnerships with mental health organizations, developing model policy to respond to persons affected by mental illness, training officers and other staff in mental health first aid and crisis intervention training. The Rhode Island Early Diversion statewide project proposes to serve 100 unduplicated individuals in Year 1 of the project, 200 on an annual basis thereafter and a total of 900 individuals affected by mental illness or cooccurring substance use disorders with a priority to Veterans over the five-year project period.
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).
