Department
Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
title
Request approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between Fulton County, the Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) and the Atlanta/Fulton County Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative, Inc. (PAD) to resume continuing financial support for delivery of pre-arrest diversion services in the amount of $400,000.00 for the period January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. (APPROVED AS AMENDED)
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Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-10-1 all official contracts entered into by the County governing authority and with other persons on behalf of the County shall be in writing and entered in its minutes.
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☒
District 1 ☐
District 2 ☐
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background (First sentence includes Agency recommendation. Provide an executive summary of the action that gives an overview of the relevant details for the item.)
Scope of Work: Fulton County through the Department of BHDD would like to resume providing resources for support and coordination of pre-arrest diversion services for adult participants. The Atlanta/Fulton County Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative (PAD) was developed in partnership with the City of Atlanta and Fulton County as a strategy to provide timely intervention and redirection for individuals experiencing substance addiction, mental health concerns, or extreme poverty. As a pre-arrest program, PAD accepts diversion referrals from law enforcement at the time of the alleged crime, instead of post-booking and court involvement. This unique initiative allows our community to address behavioral health and quality of life concerns through case management and linkage to care and treatment, when otherwise the individual would have merely landed in jail. The people that cycle through our jails are people who the system has failed. They are the people that other diversion programs often reject - those with prior convictions, with pending cases or warrants, who have already gone through a diversion program, who cannot pay for the cost of pre-trial intervention, who are homeless, or who do not pass random drug screens. As a result, these people fall through the cracks. They spend more time in jail, frequently recidivate, and do not receive treatment for underlying mental health and addiction problems. Through law enforcement diversion and intensive care navigation, PAD creates a unique and necessary pathway for these individuals to connect to county and city services. FY 2023 funding will support the following KPIs: 1) provide 3 weeks of emergency shelter to 400 people annually; 2) provide 3 months of temporary housing to 60 people annually; 3) provide 4 weeks of transportation assistance to 300 people annually; 4) Provide cell phones and cell phone service to 60 people annually; 5) provide 3 months of food assistance to 150 people annually; 6) provide clothing and PPE supplies to 250 people annually; and 7) provide personal identification and document assistance to 100 people annually.
Community Impact: Fulton County, through the Department of BHDD, desires for Atlanta/Fulton County PAD to continue to provide timely intervention and redirection for individuals experiencing substance addiction, mental health concerns, or extreme poverty.
Department Recommendation: The Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities recommends the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Project Implications: The services described under the Scope of Work for this Contract shall be performed by Atlanta/Fulton County PAD Initiative, Inc. for a total amount of $400,000.00.
Community Issues/Concerns: None
Department Issues/Concerns: None