This program supports law enforcement–behavioral health cross-system collaboration to improve public health and public safety by improving responses to and outcomes for individuals with mental health disorders (MHDs) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs). Through this opportunity, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) provides grant funding to help entities prepare, create, or expand comprehensive plans and then implement these collaborative projects to target people who qualify.
Please note that the Connect and Protect Program is under the umbrella of BJA’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP). Per the authorizing statute, JMHCP requires a two-phase process consisting of planning and then implementation activities during which grantees will develop a coordinated approach to implementing or enhancing services for individuals with MHDs or MHSUDs who come in contact with law enforcement. Applicants must submit one application that proposes detailed activities for both a planning phase and an implementation phase.