R2023-196 Resolution Authorizing Funding Assistance to Child 1st Center/Macon County Heals for Crisis Response Program with the Decatur Police Department

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STAFF REPORT To: Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe City Council Members City Manager Scot Wrighton From: Chief Shane Brandel Subject: Council Resolution Funding of Macon County HEALS program BRIEFING ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve by resolution the partial funding of the Macon County HEALS trauma response program. BACKGROUND: The Macon County HEALS office is a program of the Child I st Center that works with victims of crime between the ages of 0-25. Macon County HEALS has been working with DPD to develop a program where they would be able to respond to certain calls that the Decatur Police Department responds to in order to start working with families/individuals immediately following a violent crime. Current processes rely on referrals to HEALS, which delays the connection between the crisis works and the victims. This delay can create difficulty in being able to speak with and provide services to victims of violent crime. By adding the crisis response piece to the existing program, HEALS will be able to provide immediate support to individuals, lessening the long- term effects of the traumatic experience on the community members. This will allow the crisis response workers to provide for the immediate emotional and practical needs of the victims and families while they are in the peak of their trauma. Crises responders can develop safety plans, make connections with other family members, assist in fmding appropriate accommodations,and offer services and information to victims of trauma. With HEALS having the immediate and direct connection to victims, rather than relying on referrals, the HEALS program can ensure that all victims receive the information regarding services that are available. Trauma caused by violent crime, whether it is as a victim or witness, can have lasting effects. If the trauma is not dealt with in a healthy way,it can lead to PTSD,personality changes,depression, alcohol/drug abuse,job loss,negative effects on relationships,and criminal behavior. By working with DPD to immediately interact with victims of trauma,the goal is to increase the participation in recovery services. By increasing the usage of the services, this decreases the likelihood of suffering from the negative effects of the trauma. Macon County HEALS has received additional funding from other sources and is seeking approximately $30,000 from the City to help fully fund and continue this program. The City of Decatur contributed $30,000 to the first year of this program in 2022 through Council resolution 82022-123. This would be year two of this program,with the first year showing positive results.