THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (BJA), PRESENTED AN AWARD TO THE YAVAPAI JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH COALITION FOR THEIR WORK AS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT-MENTAL HEALTH LEARNING SITE, TO DE-STIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND IMPROVE LAW ENFORCEMENT’S RESPONSE TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS.

THIS YAVAPAI COUNTY COLLABORATIVE INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT DIVERTING AND DEFLECTING THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE THE PRESCOTT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND YAVAPAI COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE’S ONGOING CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT; THE USE OF POLARA HEALTH’S CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT, A SINGLE-POINT TRIAGE CENTER THAT PROVIDES CRISIS ASSESSMENTS AND ASSISTANCE; THE USE OF SPECTRUM HEALTHCARE GROUP’S MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS THAT CAN BE CALLED DIRECTLY TO A SCENE TO HELP DE-ESCALATE A SITUATION WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOUNTERS AN INDIVIDUAL IN DISTRESS;  AND THE REACH OUT JAIL RE-ENTRY COORDINATION PROGRAM THAT HELPS TO PREVENT PEOPLE ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM FROM RETURNING.