Council approves SAMHSA‑funded behavioral‑health partnership with Hope to Mission to assist police

The council voted to approve a SAMHSA grant program that will place licensed clinicians and case managers from Hope to Mission alongside San Fernando police to respond to and follow up on mental‑health calls. Police and staff described the program as a way to reduce repeat mental‑health calls, provide de‑escalation and case management, and build community engagement and training.

Chief staff said the city applied for and received a $757,000 SAMHSA award and adopted a resolution authorizing acceptance. Hope to Mission's senior clinical leader, Phoebe Zaki, described a staffing model of two licensed clinicians who will respond to calls and two case managers available for on‑call follow‑up and resource navigation. Zaki said the grant proposal included three goals and seven objectives with measurable targets (for example, an aspiration to reduce repeat mental‑health calls by 50% by the end of the grant period) and that monthly data and outcomes reporting will be provided to city staff.

Council members asked about triage criteria, trauma and victim services, and whether the clinicians would respond in real time; staff clarified clinicians will be available during regular business hours and will be triaged for safety so clinicians are not put at risk. The chief said he supports the program and council members moved and approved the item on roll call.

The council directed staff to accept monthly reporting from the contractor and to monitor the program's metrics through the grant period.