To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diana Becton, District Attorney
Report Title: FY2024 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program Grant
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the District Attorney, or designee, to apply for and accept the FY2024 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for the implementation of a Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigations Health and Wellness Program for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
County will receive up to $200,000 over the entire grant period. No County match is required.
BACKGROUND:
The Fiscal Year 2024 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program funds are used to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs. The FY24 LEMHWA program will fund projects that develop knowledge, increase awareness of effective mental health and wellness strategies, increase the skills and abilities of law enforcement, and increase the number of law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders using peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs.
The FY24 LEMHWA program has one open solicitation entitled LEMHWA Implementation Projects. The LEMHWA Implementation Projects solicitation aims to support state, local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement agencies seeking to implement new or enhance existing programs that offer training and services on officer emotional and mental health, peer mentoring, suicide prevention, stress reduction, and support services for officers and their families.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office seeks to apply for the FY24 LEMHWA grant to implement a new Health and Wellness Program for its Bureau of Investigations.
Today's action authorizes the District Attorney, or designee, to submit the LEMHWA grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for consideration and receive funding if awarded.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If unapproved, the District Attorney's Office will be unable to apply for and accept the FY 2024 LEMHWA grant and won’t be able to implement a new Health and Wellness Program for its Bureau of Investigations.