Policy Research, Inc.

Policy Research, Inc. (PRI) is a nationally-recognized source of research knowledge, expertise, and resources on issues related to the behavioral health needs of people involved in the justice system. Reducing the over-incarceration of people with serious mental illness is a priority for the systems change initiatives of nine of the eleven core sites receiving implementation funding as part of the Safety and Challenge Network. This award enables PRI to deliver intensive technical assistance directly to the nine jurisdictions as well as support the efforts of other core and partner Network sites to reduce inappropriate and unnecessary jail incarceration of people with serious mental illness. The goal is to divert people with serious mental illness from the criminal justice system to community-based programs at the earliest opportunity, including law enforcement contact, initial detention, and pretrial services.

To support the Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Collaborative for Change Resource Center.

Policy Research, Inc., is a nationally-recognized source of expertise, information, and resources on issues related to the behavioral health needs of people involved in the justice system. Assisted by a working group of representatives of communities that have dealt collaboratively and successfully with behavioral health issues in their jail populations, Policy Research will use this grant to develop and produce two white papers: an analysis of the issues associated with the jailing of people with serious mental illnesses; and an analysis of the factors underlying successful community responses to those issues.

This is one of four matching grants that fund projects under a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Foundation to promote and diffuse best practices developed through Models for Change, by capitalizing on OJJDP’s leadership, programs, networks, and resources. The four organizations are nationally-recognized sources for training, technical assistance, and information in the juvenile justice field. With this grant, the Center will provide training to master trainers in six states on the Models for Change Mental Health Curriculum for Juvenile Justice.

The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice works to improve the juvenile justice system’s handling of young people with mental illness. It will use this grant to organize a national conference, at which representatives of the three Models for Change Action Networks will share and refine strategies for securing and expanding their reform work and promoting it to a wider audience. The grant will also fund longer-term activities to sustain these leadership networks and spread strategic innovations developed by them, including the documentation and evaluation of their work.

Policy Research, Inc. operates the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, a nationally-recognized nonprofit in providing expertise, information, and resources on issues related to the mental health needs of youth involved with the juvenile justice system that has been the lead technical assistance provider on mental health issues in the Models for Change juvenile justice reform initiative. It will use this grant to establish a training and technical assistance center to support the dissemination and adoption of resources and program models developed under Models for Change to better identify and care for justice-involved youth with mental health needs.

The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice works to improve the juvenile justice system’s handling of young people who need mental health treatment. It will use this grant to organize a national conference, at which participants in the three issue-focused Models for Change Action Networks (disproportionate minority contact, mental health, juvenile indigent defense) will share and refine strategies for securing and expanding their reform work and promoting it to a wider audience; and to engage in other activities to sustain their issue networks and spread their strategic innovations.

The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice works to improve the juvenile justice system’s handling of young people who need mental health treatment. It will use this grant to organize a national conference, at which participants in the three issue-focused Models for Change Action Networks (disproportionate minority contact, mental health, juvenile indigent defense) will share and refine strategies for securing and expanding their reform work and promoting it to a wider audience; and to engage in other activities to sustain their issue networks and spread their strategic innovations.

In support of Models for Change Action Network activities to promote innovative reforms.

To provide training and technical assistance to the Models for Change states (over three years).

For the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, to provide support to the states participating in the Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network (over two years).

To administer and manage the Mental Health Action Network (over three years).

In support of work under the Models for Change juvenile justice systems reform initiative (over three years).

For the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice in support of project management for two demonstration sites in Illinois to design and implement model programs for the delivery of community-based alternative sanctions and services to youth

In support of the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice and for efforts to improve policy and practice in the Foundation’s targeted sites (over three years).

To develop a center to assist states and local jurisdictions in responding to mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system (over two years).

For a planning effort to establish the Center for Effective Responses for Mentally Ill Juvenile Offenders.

To support the Seattle Integrative Services Project, to examine the criminal justice system's role as a treatment substitute for people with serious mental illness (over two years).

To support a project on managed behavioral healthcare and criminal justice.