California Issues RFA To Launch Behavioral Health Justice Intervention Services Project

California is launching a one-year behavioral health justice intervention services (BHJIS) project intended to support local and statewide efforts to improve first responder, emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, and community efforts to address behavioral health crises. The goal of the BHJIS project is to reduce arrests and jail stays, reduce forensic competency evaluations and treatment, and to connect individuals with resources and support within their own communities. The BHJIS project will run from February 15, 2022, through February 14, 2023.

To select projects, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released a request for applications on November . . .