Alameda Co. Awarded $6M For Rehabilitative Services

From Alameda County Health Care Services Agency: Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) has been awarded a $6 million grant by the California Board of State and Community Corrections to fund rehabilitative programs over the course of three years. Alameda County’s proposal was ranked second out of 58 applications in a statewide competition for Proposition 47 funding, making the County one of 23 grant recipients. Passed in 2014, Proposition 47 reclassified certain low‐level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, mandating that the resulting state savings be directed toward mental health, substance use, and other community‐based programs to prevent recidivism.

Alameda County’s Proposition 47 Project targets the needs of adults who have been arrested,
charged with, or convicted of a criminal offense and have a history of severe to moderate mental
health issues and/or substance use disorders. The Proposition 47 programs will be a key component
of the reentry system of care that the County’s Community Corrections Partnership is building to
better address the challenges facing residents returning to the County from jail and prison.
70% of the Proposition 47 award will be dedicated to community‐based organizations to provide the
following services and resources:

• Mental Health: Two mental health treatment and case management teams will each serve formerly incarcerated individuals with severe to moderate mental health or co-occurring disorders. These multidisciplinary teams will integrate formerly incarcerated individuals to work as peer case managers alongside licensed clinicians.
• Substance Use: Expanded community‐based services will serve individuals with substance use disorders, in particular those with co‐occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
• Housing: A new grant program will fund community‐based organizations providing financial support to address emergency housing needs of formerly incarcerated individuals with mental
  health and/or substance use disorders.

housing services to our residents with the highest need – who are also at the highest risk of reentering the criminal justice system,” said Rebecca Gebhart, Interim Director of the County’s Health Care Services Agency.

HCSA will implement these programs in partnership with the County’s Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Housing and Community Development Department, and the Courts, in addition to local community based organizations. A Local Advisory Council, consisting of county agency leadership and community representatives, will meet on at least a quarterly basis to oversee implementation of the grant over its three‐year period.

“We are grateful to our government and community partners for their commitment to collaboration, which was essential to obtaining this funding,” said Wendy Still, Chief Probation Officer. “We look forward to working closely together in implementing these programs to more effectively assist justice‐involved citizens reentering our communities.”

"The District Attorney's Office strives to ensure the safety of the communities we serve. I am confident that the Proposition 47 services will be instrumental in reducing recidivism and crime rates in our county," says DA Nancy O'Malley. "Collaboration among all the stakeholders was key in securing this grant, and will be vital as we work together to reduce recidivism and provide a structure under which formerly incarcerated adults will thrive."

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