CSS 2024-12-09 Item 1A - Contract Amendments - Sound Mental Health Co-Responder Program

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City of Tukwila ThomasMcLeod, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Community Services and Safety Committee FROM: Police Chief Eric Drever BY: Phi Huynh, Executive Administrator CC: Thomas McLeod DATE: November 22, 2024 SUBJECT: Sound Health Contracts (#23-097 & #23-098) For Mental Health Professional Co-Responder Program ISSUE The Tukwila Police Department is seeking committee approval to authorize the Mayor to sign the s o contract #23-097 and contract #23-098 for our Sound Health co-responders from January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 . BACKGROUND In accordance with the City' s goals of a High-Performing & Effective Organization and a Positive Community Identity & Image for all Tukwila community members, the Police Department recognized that there was a need for collaboration of services when it comes to mental health and chemical addiction issues within the City of Tukwila. Our objective was to reduce the number of mentally ill and chemically dependent interventions that requires jail and hospitalizations. We also recognized the need for diversion of mentally ill and chemically dependent youth and adults from entering the criminal justice system. Co-responder programs throughout the nation have been effective in reducing the number of people entering the criminal justice system, while providing appropriate resources for their illness. The department needs to provide services that provide the appropriate high-quality services for our community members. DISCUSSION The Tukwila Police Department co-responder program is a collaborative approach designed to address the City of Tukwila' s desire to ensure Tukwila' s mentally ill and chemically- dependent community members have access to community treatment in lieu of incarceration for non-violent misdemeanor offenses, where the individual is identified by officers and confirmed by a co-responder to be demonstrating behaviors symptomatic of a mental disorder and/ or co-occurring disorder (combining mental health behavioral disorders with substance use disorders). The program accomplishes this goal by: 1) embedding mental health professionals (aka co-responders) within the police department who respond to calls when officers ask for professional (consultive) assistance by the MHP's; 2) working with and educating officers in traditional methods employed by mental health professionals to de-escalate individuals demonstrating behavioral health concerns as well as assist in providing support to identify symptoms stemming from mental illness versus chemically altered behaviors; 3) ensuring appropriate community services are accessed to facilitate diversion, including community after- care services are available to individuals diverted from incarceration. The program was first implemented as a pilot program in 2021 and has proven to be a great asset for both the Police Department and the community. The Police Department and Sound Health had since re-evaluated the program for funding and continuation of the program and had 1