Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the acceptance of a United States Conference of Mayors Police Reform and Equitable Justice grant award of $100,000 and amends the 2024 Police budget for the grant. This grant will be used for the Police Department’s Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI) including overtime for the Addiction Resource Team, personnel costs for the Safe Communities peer support coaches, and supplementing existing grant-funding for a Police program assistant, training, supplies, evaluation and coordination. The funds are provided to MPD up front and will earn interest (up to $5,000) which can be used for grant purposes. Funds not expended as of December 31, 2024, will be carried forward in the Grant Fund until fully utilized. There is no impact on the levy.
Title
Accepting a Unites States Conference of Mayors Police Reform and Equitable Justice Grant Program award of $100,000 for the Police Department’s Madison Area Addiction Recovery Initiative (MAARI); and amending the 2024 Police budget to use the funds for purposes of the program.
Body
WHEREAS the Police Department created in 2017 the Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI) pre-arrest diversion program to direct individuals struggling with mental health and substance use disorder challenges away from the criminal justice system and instead connect them with treatment, peer support and recovery services; and,
WHEREAS, officers referred 263 participants to the program who would have otherwise been arrested. 160 of those referred by officers-initiated program engagement, with 100 successfully completing six months of substance use disorder or mental health treatment; and,
WHEREAS, the program was expanded in 2020 to become more regional, develop an Addiction Resource Team for community outreach, conduct clinical assessments, provide peer support coaching for participants and naloxone distribution; and,
WHEREAS, in addition, through May 2024 have been 332 referrals by officers and MPD staff with a treatment completion rate of 68%; and the Addiction Resource Team has received 1,582 referrals for follow up visits; 90% of those deemed eligible, 1,063 visits attempted, resulting in 535 in-person contacts and 483 visits with recommendations/warm handoffs; and,
WHEREAS, current program partners are Dane County Human Services, Tellurian Behavioral Health, Safe Communities of Madison Dane County and the UW Population Health Institute, and previous partners were Public Health Madison Dane County, the Fire Department and UW School of Family Medicine and Penn State University; and,
WHEREAS, the United States Conference of Mayors selected the City of Madison as the winner of the mid-size-city award in the fourth year of its Police Reform and Equitable Justice Grant Program; and through the generous support of Target, its partner in this awards program, will award the Police Department $100,000 for its MAARI pre-arrest diversion program.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Chief of Police are authorized to accept the Unites States Conference of Mayors Police Reform and Equitable Justice Grant Program award for $100,000.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Police 2024 Operating Budget is amended to appropriate grant funds received to be used for the purposes of the grant, which is to provide general support for the program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Finance and Police Department are authorized to establish and/or maintain accounts as required for the administration of the grant funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that grant funds will be used for overtime of the Addiction Resource Team cadre of trained officers and personnel costs of the Safe Communities peer support coaches who engage in outreach with them, as well as supplementing existing grant-funding for a Police program assistant, training, supplies, evaluation and coordination.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that due to other anticipated grants for this program, the budget for this grant may be adjusted to extend or further enhance program activities funded by other grants.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that advanced funds will earn interest (up to $5,000) for grant purposes and funds not expended as of December 31, 2024, be carried forward until fully utilized.