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This webinar focused on how counties can track connections to care and explored strategies for how counties can increase connections to care Read More

In March 2016, the Calaveras County Board of Supervi­sors passed a resolution to join the national Stepping Up initiative and commit to safely reducing the number of adults with mental illnesses in the Calaveras County Jail by connecting them to community-based treatment whenever possible. In May 2018, Calav­eras County was selected for the inaugural cohort of Stepping Up Innovator Counties due to its efforts to accurately identify and collect data on individuals with mental illnesses coming into its jail. Read More

In 2015, recognizing a need to relieve jail overcrowding and identify alternatives to jail for people with mental illnesses, Douglas County, Kan., leaders sought out policy and practice changes that could be put into place that would lead to better outcomes for their residents. The County Board of Commissioners supported the development of a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to enhance collaboration among the various agencies and systems (including other municipal law enforcement agencies) needed to work on this issue. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a U.S. Department of Justice’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant and worked with the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and the University of Kansas to develop the Assist-Identify-Divert (AID) Program. Read More

Through a culture of collaboration, Johnson County, Kan., has developed numerous systems and processes to help collect, share and use data on individuals who come into contact with their county’s justice and human services systems, including those with behavioral health needs. The county uses these systems and processes to inform policy and funding priorities to better identify individuals with mental health treatment needs and connect them to services. Read More

The National Association of Counties and its partners at the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation hosted a live video panel discussion commemorating two years of Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails. Panelists discuss the progress their counties have made as part of the initiative and the continuing challenges and barriers they face to eliminating the use of jails as a response to people experiencing mental health crises. Read More

Stepping Up: The California Summit -- Jan. 19, 2017 -- State leaders discuss ways to establish a foundation across California on which to build and harness the extraordinary momentum of the summit. Read More

Stepping Up: The California Summit -- Jan. 18, 2017 -- During this keynote session, the presenter will discuss factors that have contributed to the current prevalence of people with mental illnesses in jail, lessons learned from past efforts to address this problem, and what it will take to have a true systems-level impact. Read More