Early Diversion Program

CMHA utilized SAMHSA grant funds in 2020 to introduce an Early Diversion Program, which provides opportunities for individuals with serious mental health diagnosis or co-concurring disorder to choose a 6-month intensive mental health treatment program in lieu of arrest/booking for a qualifying misdemeanor. The goal of the program is to get individuals into community mental health treatment programs and reduce the number of individuals entering the criminal justice system and/or being incarcerated!

Program participants are required to receive a mental health assessment and develop a treatment plan to identify and participate in appropriate programming to address needs.  Participants also meet with the Case Manager, Peer Support Specialist and an Advocate to monitor progress.

Enrollees complete a confidential SAMHSA “baseline interview” that collects information regarding their social connectedness, mental and physical health, military history, housing stability, education and employment, and criminal justice involvement.  A “discharge interview” is conducted at 6 months to determine if the participant has made improvements in those categories.