Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: March 4, 2025
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: Venerria L. Thomas, Director
FROM: Isabelle Klier-Graham, Manager
CONTACT: Isabelle Klier-Graham
PHONE: 407-836-3187
DIVISION: Mental Health and Homelessness Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval of Criminal Justice Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program Final Program Status Report and Financial Report for Grant Agreement No. LH818 for the time period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. (Mental Health and Homelessness Division)
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PROJECT: N/A
PURPOSE: The Department of Children and Families notified Orange County of a full Criminal Justice Mental Health and Substance Abuse (CJMHSA) Reinvestment Grant award in the amount of $1,200,000 on June 3, 2021. The grant, for $400,000 a year for three years, began on January 1, 2022 and ended on December 31, 2024.
The Mental Health and Homelessness Division with the Grants Oversight Committee approval applied for the CJMHSA Reinvestment Grant Program to implement pre-booking diversion drop-in centers in East and West Orange County, as well as expand Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Coordination in Orange County. Both CIT expansion and peer supported drop-in centers were identified as a community need in the Orange County Gaps Analysis and the Pre-Booking Committee of the Criminal Justice Public Safety Coordinating Council. Though law enforcement never fully embraced the concept to divert individuals directly to the drop-in centers, over 900 unhoused individuals were referred for behavioral health services over the three years. Approximately 10% successfully transitioned to permanent housing and/or residential care. Through these funds, Orange County was able to employ a full-time CIT coordinator who, in collaboration with Aspire Health Partners, trained over 450 first responders. This coordinator was also successful in creating an all-Orange County Corrections track to focus on first responder’s needs in a correctional setting. Orange County will continue to fund the drop-in centers as well as the CIT Coordinator with general revenue.
BUDGET: N/A