Mental Health Milestone: Every Frontline Officer at San Marcos PD Earns Crisis Intervention Certification.

Programs Across the U.S. Adopt Specialized Training, Models, and Strategic Funding to Address Opioid, Mental Health, and Suicide Crises.

December 24, 2025

In partnership with

Today’s Brief:

  • Crisis Intervention Briefs

  • St. Cloud to Fund Mental Health Co-Responder Unit with $870,000 in Opioid Settlement Money

  • UNC's Opioid Response Project Empowers North Carolina Communities to Fight the Opioid Epidemic

  • Social Media Briefs

    Total Read Time: 4 minutes

👮 Crisis Intervention Briefs

The Cleveland Division of Police recently announced the completion of a Specialized Crisis Intervention Team (SCIT) training program by several of its officers. This specialized training is designed to enhance the officers' ability to recognize early warning signs of mental health crises, safely de-escalate tense situations, and connect community members to appropriate care.

The San Marcos Police Department announced that every eligible frontline officer has earned the Mental Health Peace Officer (MHPO) certification, with 76 officers now holding the designation. The required training, which includes de-escalation and crisis intervention, ensures that officers are better prepared to respond to mental health calls by supporting the individual and connecting them to necessary help.

Bradford County was awarded two competitive grants totaling $187,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to address a suicide rate that is more than double the state average. The funding will be used to form a Crisis Intervention Team that will train 90 first responders in de-escalation tactics, and to launch a county-wide firearm suicide awareness campaign featuring lockbox giveaways and school-age mental health programs.

Julota empowers smarter crisis responses by simplifying and streamlining Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health programs. By integrating hospital, EMS, and social services data into a centralized platform, it enables seamless, secure, and HIPAA-compliant collaboration. Automated reporting ensures compliance, while customizable workflows address community-specific needs. With actionable insights, teams can improve outcomes and secure greater funding, making Julota the only software purpose-built to bridge law enforcement and behavioral health with compassion and efficiency.

The St. Cloud City Council is dedicating $870,000 from opioid settlement funds to combat substance abuse, homelessness, and mental health issues. A significant portion of the money will bolster the Police Department's Mental Health Response Unit by funding two co-responder positions. Police Chief Jeff Oxton noted the difficulty in filling these positions, which require licensed mental health practitioners to work in the field. However, the program has proven effective, reducing forced hospitalizations from over 1,000 annually to about 450 in 2025. The co-responders provide in-field diagnostics and connect individuals with community mental health resources, helping stabilize situations. The funding is intended to sustain the program through 2029, giving the department time to seek permanent funding for these critical roles.

Trusted by millions. Actually enjoyed by them too.

Morning Brew makes business news something you’ll actually look forward to — which is why over 4 million people read it every day.

Sure, the Brew’s take on the news is witty and sharp. But the games? Addictive. You might come for the crosswords and quizzes, but you’ll leave knowing the stories shaping your career and life.

Try Morning Brew’s newsletter for free — and join millions who keep up with the news because they want to, not because they have to.

The Opioid Response Project, led by the UNC School of Government's ncIMPACT Initiative, is partnering with 10 community teams across 16 North Carolina counties to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. The project brings together Carolina faculty experts in diverse fields, such as law, social services, and public administration, to find integrated solutions with local leaders and first responders. Community teams from urban, suburban, and rural areas meet in forums to learn from both the faculty expertise and a "cross-pollination" of experiences from their peers.

The goal is to help these communities refine action plans, build stronger internal infrastructure, and achieve better efficiency and alignment of services. Following the two-year program, UNC faculty will produce a public website and a free guide based on the lessons learned to aid other communities in their response to the epidemic.

Social Media Briefs