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There's already an alternative to calling the police

Anna V. Smith

June 11, 2020 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Eugene, Oregon

CAHOOTS, the 31-year-old program considered a model for the growing number of community-based crisis programs, fielded more than 24,000 calls in 2019, less than 1% of which required police involvement. The program's unarmed first responders use "unconditional positive regard," meaning support and acceptance for people in a mental health crisis. Although Eugene is relatively small, its proven system of de-escalation, meant to avoid police violence, has now been adopted in Denver, Oakland, Portland, and elsewhere.

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Madison Latino Consortium steps in to provide safety net, cash to undocumented families

Steven Elbow

June 04, 2020 |

The Cap Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Madison, Wisconsin

In Dane Country, Wisconsin "a collective of advocacy, economic, educational, and health-care groups" are working together to connect undocumented immigrant families – who are not eligible for federal aid – with social services during the coronavirus pandemic. “They’re able to provide us with something, with food,” one resident said in regards to the Latino Consortium for Action. “Any little bit helps, and that’s been very good.”

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Diversion program thrives on cooperation, embraces skeptics

Ryan Lowery

June 04, 2020 |

Las Vegas Optic |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alamosa, Colorado

The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program in Alamosa, Colorado, gives police officers the option of sending people to substance abuse treatment rather than straight into the criminal justice system. Used in non-violent cases, the diversion program is based on a harm-reduction model that uses a health-care approach rather than a punitive approach to address the underlying issues when a crime is committed. Some police officers object to the program's mission, but proponents say that forcing compliance would be counterproductive.

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A turnaround school on the rise sees progress halted by the pandemic

Amadou Diallo

June 01, 2020 |

The Hechinger Report |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Metaire, Louisiana

When the John Q. Adams Middle School in Louisiana received a D rating, a new principal stepped in to restructure and address the ongoing issues with staff and students and was seeing success—but that changed when the pandemic hit and the school was unable to shift to remote learning. Progress started by holding one-on-one sessions with all staff and administrators at the school, tidying up the campus, and by approaching school discipline with a perspective that is conducive to long-term positive change.

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Arrests decrease under diversion program

Ryan Lowery

May 28, 2020 |

Las Vegas Optic |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alamosa, Colorado

Alamosa, Colorado has lowered its jail population and the number of felony cases and arrests, and has broken the cycle of repeat offending, by diverting people with drug problems from prosecution into treatment. The local version of a national program called Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) was modeled on one in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which worked best when people in the program maintained a close relationship with their case workers. One of many problems those relationships solved: the high number of missed court dates, which result in arrest warrants.

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As Europe comes out of lockdown, what lessons can be learned from Sweden?

Catherine Edwards

May 20, 2020 |

The Local |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden

Sweden’s refusal to enact strict lockdown rules turned out to be far from an unqualified success, but in both its failures and modest benefits it offers lessons on managing through a pandemic while minimizing economic harm. The country’s responses were more nuanced and detailed than a simple hands-off approach. Its economy has not been spared a severe downturn, nor is its death toll anything to brag about. But, in numerous ways, Sweden’s softer approach lives up to its billing as more sustainable than many other countries’.

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How Detroit Gets People Around During a Pandemic

Emily Nonko

May 20, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

The city of Detroit’s government spearheaded new partnerships at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to provide transit options for people living in city shelters and residents who don’t have cars to access COVID-19 testing. These partnerships among government departments allowed for transporting those experiencing homelessness to designated emergency shelters and hospitals to prevent the spread of the virus among shelter residents. Government officials anticipated as many as 450 shelter residents would contract the virus, but so far, only 154 people have tested positive with no deaths reported.

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Helping Tenants and Landlords Resolve Issues — Before Going to Court

Jared Brey

May 19, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The city of Philadelphia piloted a mediation program that showed how landlord-tenant disputes could be resolved short of an eviction lawsuit. Though the program only lasted two months and heard just a handful of cases, it demonstrated that landlords will participate voluntarily in a system that can equalize a power imbalance and resolve disputes in ways that prove less damaging to both parties. Demand for the mediation program could ramp up if an expected wave of evictions hits because of the pandemic's effects on the economy.

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Solutions to restore inmates' mental health and get them to trial

David Barer

May 17, 2020 |

KXAN-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Texas

In Texas, legislators and advocates are working to address mental health concerns for individuals entering or in the criminal justice system. For those already in jail, telepsychiatry is being offered to help rehabilitate inmates. For those just entering the system, a mental health court in Travis County has been developed to connect people with needed mental health services so that they can stand trial and even have their cases dismissed.

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Locked In Limbo: Jail-based Competency Restoration

Josh Hinkle

May 17, 2020 |

KXAN-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Lubbock, Texas

Experts, advocates, and lawmakers are working within the Texas prison system to help individuals experiencing incarceration access mental health care. A promising practice has been the use of telepsychiatry, or virtual therapy, which has seen a nearly 50% success rate. While efforts are being made, it’s being done in pieces and without scaled, statewide support.

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