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Norristown approves $191,600 state SCIP grant application to fund a co-responder
Summary
Council approved submission and acceptance of a 2024 State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) grant, which would fund a co-responder position with vehicle and equipment for two years; staff said the co-responder is not yet active and the grant would reduce local costs.
Norristown council voted to approve an application and acceptance for the 2024 State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) grant, a state award staff said would provide $191,600 to fund a mental-health co-responder for two years.
Police staff explained the co-responder position is not currently active. The presenter said the grant would cover a co-responder with a vehicle and equipment for the two-year grant period and would reduce the municipality’s annual outlay compared with the planned local budget. "This funding would only really cover a part time co responder where this grant for 2 years would cover a co responder with a vehicle and equipment for that entire period," the police presenter told council.
Staff said the requested SCIP award of $191,600 would require a local match of $28,740; they described the match as significantly lower than the roughly $50,000 per year the municipality had budgeted for a partial co-responder without the grant. The presenter also described operational duties: the grant-funded co-responder would respond to calls in the community, perform live response as a licensed therapist, and conduct follow-up and wraparound connection to services; the position would carry a vehicle, phone and computer.
Council members asked about the scope of calls and local call volume tied to behavioral health. Police staff said a substantial portion of calls on a typical shift involve mental-health consumers, estimating 12–22% per shift are directly related to mental or behavioral health issues. Council members also asked whether the department had alternate funding plans if the grant were not awarded; staff said they were pursuing additional grants and funding options.
The council approved the motion by roll call; the vote was recorded in the meeting minutes as unanimous. The motion authorized application for and acceptance of the 2024 SCIP grant and, if awarded, the department will return to council with any required implementation steps.
