Reference: Colorado DOLA Grant Application-Peace Officer’s Mental Health Support
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Jane Bais DiSessa, City Manager
Prepared By: Paul Southard, Chief of Police
Date Prepared: October 7, 2020
PURPOSE
To request approval of the application of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Peace Officer’s Mental Health Support Grant.
STRATEGIC FOCUS AREA
Safe, Active and Engaged Community
BACKGROUND
Colorado Department of Local Affairs has made available funding in 2020 for the purposes of Peace Officer’s Mental Health Support. The funds can be used to provide on-scene response services to support peace officer’s handling of persons with mental health disorders; and counseling services to peace officers. Grants are approved on a first-come first-serve basis.
Funds are awarded until exhausted. This is an annual grant program funded by DOLA.
The Brighton Peer Support team consists of 10 members who have completed 40 hours of Colorado Peace Officer Standards Training (P.O.S.T.) to act as peer support members. Several members have also completed advanced peer support training of 72 hours.
Last year’s fund expenditures covered 3-day countywide advanced peer support training. All BPD peer support team members now being POST certified. Twelve peer support trainings and critical incident debriefs. As of 10/01/2020, sixty-one direct support visits to clinicians, therapists and counselors. Twenty-two alternative mental and physical health treatment counseling.
CONCLUSIONS
The Brighton Police Department is requesting the funds be used to continue to cover peer support team supervision, direct counseling, and training for new hires, roll call and webinar training. Additionally funding will be used for alternative mental and physical officer wellness expenditures as well as co-responder response for mental health calls for service.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The grant application is for $50,000. The estimated cost breakdown is as follows:
Direct officer support, counseling services $10000.00
Peer Support Team supervision - $5000.00
Training, wellness webinars, new hire peer support team education - $7000.00
Officer wellness programs to relieve stress and job related trauma to support physical and mental health - $8000.00
Co-responder clinician to support officer's handling of in progress mental health calls for service - $20000.00
There is no additional financial impact to the city.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
1. Approve
2. Decline
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The Police Department, therefore, recommends approval of the grant submission.
ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution
• Peace Officer Mental Health Notice of Funding Available Final Feb 2020
• C.R.S. 24-32-3501
• Peace Officer Mental Health Support Grant Application (partial completion)
• PowerPoint Presentation