County awarded $6 million in grant funding
San Joaquin County was awarded $6 million in grant funding from the California Board of State and Community Corrections, thanks to Prop 47.
The 2014 ballot measure approved by California voters reduces penalties for certain non-serious and non-violent drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. It also directs state savings from reduced incarceration rates to be used to support truancy prevention, mental health and substance abuse treatment and victim services.
The County’s Prop 47 grant program is part of the Homeward Bound initiative that seeks to create communitybased mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs, expanded case management services, diversion opportunities and housing support services for nonserious, non-violent offenders.
Behavioral health services submitted its application to the state for grant funding last February. Their application was one of 23 projects out 58 across the state to receive funding.
Representatives of the County’s Health Care Services Agency, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Sheriff's Department and Superior Court participated in the planning and development of the grant application.
According to Cara Dunn the Deputy Director for Administration at San Joaquin County Behavioral Health services, the grant application specified Community Medical Centers, and Central Valley Low Income Housing to receive funding for programs.
“We anticipate putting out an RFP (request for proposal) to select an additional local community based organization to provide case management services,” she said.
Dunn said their is no way to determine exactly how much of the money will be spent in Lodi, as the service providers haven’t all been determined yet.
One of the major focuses of this grant application was to address some of the issues facing the growing homeless population in San Joaquin County, she said. All of the grant money will be invested in programs to help expand mental health and substance abuse services.
“We anticipate that this investment will improve access for many of the homeless individuals in our county who are in need of these services,” Dunn said. “Behavioral Health Services believes that the Assessment & Respite Center (part of the Homeward Bound initiative) will provide a major benefit to law enforcement agencies throughout San Joaquin County, including Lodi PD. There is also a provision in the grant for housing services, which we hope will take place in several county cities, including Lodi.”
As of right now, Dunn said that Behavioral Health Services is waiting on a contract with the State before money can be disbursed, and anticipates contract completion in October or November.
The grant ends August 15, 2020 with the first $2 million to be dedicated to the project for a 14-month period, and then an additional $2 million each 12month period thereafter, for a total of $6 million over the 38-month period.