Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Steve Geller
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO AUTHORIZE Mayor to execute the Collaborative Agreement (substantially in the form attached and subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney) among stakeholders of the 17th Judicial Circuit Mental Health Diversion Project, created to engage stakeholders to participate in strategies to divert individuals living with severe mental health conditions or co-occurring severe mental health illnesses and substance use disorders away from the criminal justice system and jails into comprehensive community-based integrated health treatment, housing, and support services. (Mayor Geller)
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Why Action is Necessary
Agreements with external agencies require approval by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”).
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the Agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 1 and authorizes the Mayor to execute the Agreement on behalf of the County.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
This item supports the Commission’s value of “approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately with special emphasis on the most vulnerable.”
In response to problems faced by individuals experiencing mental health conditions or co-occurring mental illnesses and substance use disorders with involvement in the criminal justice system, the 17th Judicial Circuit and its various stakeholders have created the Hope, Healing, Help: 17th Judicial Circuit Mental Health Diversion Project. The goals of the project are to (1) develop a picture of how individuals living with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders engage with the criminal justice system along six distinct intercept points, (2) identify resources and gaps in resources, and (3) develop priorities for change and strategic action plans. If this Agreement (Exhibit 1) is approved, the Commission joins other Broward County stakeholders including the Chief Judge, Trial Court Administrator, Public Defender, State Attorney, Sheriff, Chiefs of Police Association, CEO of Broward Behavioral Health Coalition (BBHC), and the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Broward in this endeavor.
The Commission previously adopted a resolution and was engaged by stakeholders in the following related items:
May 19, 2015
The Commission adopted Resolution No. 2015-269 (Exhibit 2) in which the Commission joined the national Stepping Up Initiative/Call to Action to reduce the number of individuals living with mental illnesses in the county jails and encouraged county officials, employees, and residents to participate in the program. Also, the Commission stated its commitment to helping individuals experiencing mental illnesses and substance use disorders through programs like those of the Broward Addiction Recovery centers, which provides a wide array of substance use detoxification and treatment services to Broward County adults.
January 7, 2020
The Commission heard a presentation from NAMI Broward on funding supportive housing for individuals living with mental health conditions (Exhibit 3).
October 20, 2020
The Commission heard a delegation request from NAMI Broward and Judge Ari Porth regarding renewal of the Commission's support of the Stepping Up Initiative and funding the endeavor (Exhibit 4).
A mental health diversion program signing ceremony is scheduled for October 8, 2021.
The Office of the County Attorney has reviewed the draft Agreement and will review the final document to ensure legal sufficiency before the document is executed by the Mayor.
Source of Additional Information
Barbara Kopec, Aide, Office of the Mayor, 954-357-7005
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
No costs are associated with the attached Collaborative Agreement at this time.