Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution amends the 2024 Police Department operating budget and authorizes a Wisconsin Department of Health Services Opioid Abatement Efforts by Law Enforcement grant in the amount of $95,935 for the Madison Area Resource Initiative (MARI) pre-arrest opioid diversion program.
The grant funds will be used to continue funding the current Program Assistant LTE position from April through June of 2025. The position coordinates community outreach by the Resource Team and MPD-specific administrative duties to serve MARI participants; supports efforts to provide continuous MARI refresher training for current MPD patrol officers; and assists in the expansion of the MARI protocol to other interested agencies in Dane County.
The resolution also authorizes passing-through grant funds to MARI partner organizations and enter into purchase of services contracts with: Safe Communities of Madison and Dane County to contract for MARI peer support services ($14,707); University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute for evaluation services provided by Janae Goodrich and Erin Taber ($21,727); and JB Public Safety Consulting, LLC, the current MARI coordinator ($6,000). Remaining grant funds will be used for training, harm reduction kits, project promotion, coordination and client intake questionnaire software. There is no city match and no impact on the levy.
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Amending the 2024 Police Department operating budget; and authorizing the Mayor and Chief of Police to sign a Wisconsin Department of Health Services Opioid Abatement Efforts by Law Enforcement grant award contract in the amount of $95,935 for the Madison Area Resource Initiative (MARI) pre-arrest opioid diversion program.
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PREAMBLE
The Madison Police Department (MPD) and its partners, Dane County Department of Human Services, Safe Communities of Madison-Dane County, Tellurian Behavioral Health and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute created a Pathways to Recovery Madison Dane County program to address opioid overdoses through its Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI) pre-arrest diversion program, Resource Team for outreach to survivors of non-fatal overdose events, and a Naloxone Plus program for the anti-overdose medication.
Created in 2017, MARI is a law enforcement-led pre-arrest diversion program for persons suspected of having Substance Use Disorder (SUD). To be eligible, individuals must be 18 and over and have been found by a police officer to have committed a drug-related crime but SUD is suspected to be the at root cause of the criminal behavior. All Madison police officers received training to identify such situations and refer eligible participants to MARI in lieu of arrest and criminal charges. When individuals are referred to the MARI assessment hub by MPD officers, they undergo a comprehensive clinical assessment for their SUD; agree to a six-month treatment and arrest diversion plan in lieu of facing criminal charges; and then are connected with a local SUD treatment provider, other counseling services and peer support. When a participant completes the program, they receive a letter of congratulations from the Police Chief acknowledging this accomplishment and the beginning of their recovery journey. The participant is also officially notified that as a result of their completion of MARI, all MPD charges associated with the initial referral to MARI have been “voided” by the department.
The Resource Team was created in 2021 for outreach to survivors of non-fatal overdose events, as well as a Naloxone Plus program for the anti-overdose medication. Thirty trained MPD officers, along with peer support coaches, contact individuals who have recently overdosed, providing information on available community treatment resources, peer support and naloxone.
MPD will use WDHS funding to enhance current programming, focusing on expanding MARI to other law enforcement agencies in Dane County.
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) is using $3 million of Wisconsin’s share of National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement funds to support law enforcement agencies and solicited applications for community drug disposal systems; medication-assisted treatment education and awareness training; pre-arrest or pre-arraignment deflection programs for people with an opioid use disorder; and treatment for people incarcerated with an opioid use disorder.
WHEREAS, WDHS has awarded the Madison Police Department a grant of $95,935 for its MARI pre-arrest deflection program and Resource Team outreach.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Chief of Police are authorized to accept an Opioid Abatement Efforts by Law Enforcement grant award from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Department for $95,935.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Police 2024 Operating Budget is amended to appropriate any grant funds received to be used for the purposes of the grant, including modifications upon appropriate approvals from the funder, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Finance and Police Departments are authorized to establish and/or maintain accounts as required for the administration of the grant funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that grant funds are to be used to continue funding the current Program Assistant LTE position to coordinate community outreach by the Resource Team and MPD-specific administrative duties to serve MARI participants; support efforts to provide continuous MARI refresher training for current MPD patrol officers; and to assist in the expansion of the MARI protocol to other interested agencies in Dane County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Finance Director or their designee is hereby authorized to pass-through grant funds to MARI partner organizations and enter into purchase of services contracts with:
- Safe Communities of Madison and Dane County to contract for MARI peer support services ($14,707)
- University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute for evaluation services provided by Janae Goodrich and Erin Taber ($21,727)
- JB Public Safety Consulting, LLC, the current MARI coordinator, for $6,000.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that other grant funds be used for training, harm reduction kits, project promotion, coordination and client intake questionnaire software.