County approves $75,000 CJCC grant amendment to fund expanded mobile peer support

The committee approved a budget amendment to accept state grant funding awarded to the County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) for an enhanced mobile peer support project, the committee heard Aug. 14.

CJCC presenters said the funding — $75,000 for a 12‑month period — originated through the state Department of Justice’s crisis intervention program and was applied for by a community partner, Wisconsin Milkweed Alliance (WEMA), with CJCC endorsement. The grant is intended to expand WEMA’s drop‑in center and staffing to provide seven‑day nonclinical crisis response (a complement to, not a replacement of, 911 or human services crisis response).

Nut graf: The amendment accepts pass‑through grant dollars to the CJCC and authorizes budget changes so the county can receive and administer the funds; any unspent funds will be carried forward into 2026.

CJCC representatives said the award will allow WEMA to increase staff so residents with acute but non‑medical crises have a community resource outside of emergency services. Committee members welcomed the timing — August precedes National Suicide Awareness Month in September — and clarified the grant is not county levy money and will not increase the county tax levy.

The committee voted to approve the budget amendment. Staff said any unused portion would be carried forward into 2026 and noted the award will not increase county levy.

Ending: The grant will be reflected as a 2025 budget amendment and tracked by CJCC; staff will manage required reporting and carry forward any unspent funds to 2026.