Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a one-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with three one-year extensions between the Madison Police Department (MPD) and Journey Mental Health Center, Inc. (Journey). This co-responder program began in 2016. The MOU establishes the operational and staffing protocols for the program. Journey will continue to employ and dedicate certified clinical crisis workers (currently three crisis workers) to work in collaboration with MPD. All costs associated with the crisis workers will be borne by Journey, with the exception of providing space which will be provided by MPD with existing resources. There is no financial impact.
The 2021 Executive Operating Budget as amended by the Finance Committee includes $600,000 in the Fire Department-Fire Operations budget for a pilot Crisis Response Team program which will include some combination of Community Paramedics and contracted mental health providers and is in addition to the MPD/Journey agreement authorized in this resolution.
Title
Authorizing a four-year memorandum of understanding between the Madison Police Department and Journey Mental Health Center, Inc. to continue a proactive co-responder police-mental health program serving individuals with mental illness.
Body
PREAMBLE
The proposed resolution authorizes a memorandum of understanding between the City of Madison and Journey Mental Health Center, Inc. (Journey) for one year, with three additional one year extensions if agreed by both parties. This is a continuation of a highly successful co-responder model that began in 2016. Journey will continue to employ and dedicate certified clinical crisis workers (currently there are three crisis workers) to continue to work in collaboration with the City. All costs associated with the crisis workers will be borne by Journey, with the exception of providing space which will be provided by the City with existing resources. There is no financial impact.
WHEREAS, the City supports efforts to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system and recognizes the importance of a coordinated mental health response from experts in the field as essential to diverting individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system and connecting them to needed mental health treatment resources; and,
WHEREAS, co-responder public safety-mental health collaboration programs have emerged as a best practice nationally and mental health clinicians housed within city agencies to provide a more consistent collaborative field response has been shown to improve outcomes for individuals with mental illness; and,
WHEREAS, the successful collaboration with Journey, that began in 2016 with one crisis worker, will continue and Journey will employ and dedicate as funding allows three certified clinical crisis workers to respond, engage and refer clients to appropriate mental health services, at no cost to the City; and,
WHEREAS, the City is working to build an alternative crisis response team to respond to behavioral health emergencies that will be in addition to this current program.; and,
WHEREAS, Journey and the City have jointly determined that it is in the best interest of the Madison community to continue a proactive co-responder program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign a memorandum of understanding with Journey Mental Health Center, Inc. that establishes the transportation, equipment, logistical and supply obligations, as well as operational and staffing protocols, for certified clinical crisis worker co-responders as described above from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign annual renewal memorandum of understandings for the next three years, if said memorandum of understandings have been reviewed and approved by the City Attorney and the City Risk Manager.