Make Sure You’re Counted
RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
CENSUS DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30
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y working with individuals who have suicidal ideation, depression, family issues, substance abuse, or housing issues, the impact on police resources is reduced. It is an innovative approach and the Cedar Rapids Police Department is one of the first law enforcement agencies in the Midwest to collaborate with mental health professionals to decrease police calls for service and reduce the likelihood of incarceration.
You still have time to complete the 2020
census! Residents need to complete the short survey by September 30, 2020, in order to be counted. The census is held once every ten years to get an accurate count of all people living in the United States, determining funding for public resources and state representation in Congress. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. Communities that are undercounted are disadvantaged both economically and politically. All residents, regardless of age, race, citizenship, or background, should be counted to help ensure Iowa receives the funding and representation it needs to meet the needs of all its residents. It’s quick, simple, and secure. Take the census online at 2020Census.gov. Residents can also respond to the census by calling the U.S. Census Bureau: 844-330-2020.
into public transportation rather than taking a personal vehicle. Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, capacity limits will remain at fifteen passengers per bus and fare collection will remain suspended at this time. Fare collection is anticipated to begin this fall, when protective driver shields are installed on all buses. Face coverings (mask, bandana, neck gaiter, or scarf) are required while on the bus. For more information, please visit the Cedar Rapids Transit website at cedar-rapids.org/transit.
The Law Enforcement Liaison, who is an employee of Foundation 2, works with police officers and responds to calls for service involving individuals with a mental health crisis. The Law Enforcement Liaison has the primary role of assisting officers who have identified individuals who may need some type of assistance because of mental illness or cooccurring disorders. The Police Department has also assigned a police officer dedicated to assisting the Law Enforcement Liaisons as part of the City’s share of a $222,345 federal grant received through the United States Department of Justice. The grant enhanced a prior federal match grant that allowed the Police Department to partner with Foundation 2 to create the Law Enforcement Liaison position. As a testament to the need for this community resource, from April 1-June 20, 2020, both the officer and Liaison have managed 215 mental health-related cases. The recently received grant funding will also allow the Police Department to add a second Law Enforcement Liaison employed through Foundation 2. Interviews for the second position were held in July, with an anticipated August start date for the second position. The Law Enforcement Liaison is just one aspect of a robust collaborative effort between the Police Department and Foundation 2 to provide assistance to those in need of mental health services. Representatives from both agencies meet on a regular basis to address systemic issues and evaluate the program. The concept of a Law Enforcement Liaison was conceptualized from this ongoing collaboration between the Police Department and Foundation 2.
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