County Receives Grant to Support Public Safety Mental Health

The Santa Barbara County Executive Office announced today that the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Behavioral Wellness has been awarded $2,145,000 over three years ($715,000/year) to staff and support two law enforcement mental health co-response teams for the county. One or more co-response teams will serve North County.

Staffing includes two crisis intervention trained Sheriff Deputies and two clinician positions from Behavioral Wellness. The grant and grant operations will be overseen by Cherylynn Lee, Ph.D., Behavioral Sciences Unit Manager, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. 

“We are thrilled to have been awarded this funding,” said Lee. “Co-response is a meaningful resource for some of our most vulnerable community members and the grant will allow us to continue this important work with Behavioral Wellness and our community partners.”

Generally, co-response teams involve a sworn Sheriff’s Deputy who is partnered with a mental health or substance abuse professional, and may include mobile crisis intervention teams, crisis outreach and support teams.

The funding, from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, is approved and allocated through the California Board of State and Community Corrections.

Lee added that the County is appreciative of grant writing assistance from the city of Goleta, which is also a grant partner. The other grant partners include Marian Regional Medical Center, City of Goleta, the County Public Defender’s office, Second District County Supervisor Gregg Hart’s office, FamiliesACT!, the National Alliance for Mental Illness, UC Santa Barbara, and Cottage Hospital. UCSB will assist with data tracking, analysis and outcomes.