Familiar Faces Initiative
Improving Outcomes Through Coordinated Heath & Justice Systems
Sections
Familiar faces—individuals with complex behavioral health needs who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other local crisis services—often do not have the support needed to ensure treatment engagement and successful outcomes. Counties and cities’ complex social services systems can be fragmented, leaving vulnerable individuals to fall through the cracks. The Familiar Faces Initiative empowered communities to share data and integrate care options between health and justice systems. While this program concluded in 2024, counties continue to pursue early intervention, improved outcomes and reduced incarceration and hospitalization rates for community members.
Congress introduces Second Chance Act reauthorization
On May 22, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 3552/S.1843) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) programs through 2030.
Measles on the rise: What county officials need to know
Vaccination is the most effective defense against measles, and county leaders can use their voices to encourage uptake of the MMR vaccine.
Fire and emergency response grants now open for counties
On May 20, FEMA announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program and the Fiscal Year 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, which support fire departments and firefighter organizations in increasing staffing and improving safety nationwide.
House draft bill text proposes FEMA reform package with major wins for counties
This week, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee released draft bill text for a sweeping Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reform package aimed at improving disaster response, streamlining aid and increasing local flexibility—reflecting many long-standing county priorities.
DOJ terminates justice and public safety-focused grants
On April 22, the U.S. Department of Justice’s largest grant-making arm—the Office of Justice Programs—abruptly cancelled hundreds of grants awarded to county governments and other local jurisdictions and organizations. Approximately 365 grants have been identified for termination, which were estimated to be valued at $811 million at the time of awarding; it is unclear how much funding remained at the time of termination.
County Strategies to Provide Supportive Housing for Familiar Faces
Join NACo for a panel discussion with experts and county leaders who have developed innovative funding models to support housing programs and facilities for familiar faces within their communities.
County Strategies to Recruit and Retain a Strong Behavioral Health Workforce
Join NACo for a panel discussion of innovative solutions to behavioral health workforce challenges.
911 Dispatch: Innovations for Addressing Behavioral Health Crisis Calls
This webinar will feature a presentation on The Pew Charitable Trust’s recent research on 911 call centers’ capabilities to handle behavioral health crises and highlight localities that have developed innovations in 911 dispatch centers.
Coordinating a System Response to 911 Dispatch
Join NACo, in collaboration with our Stepping Up partners and Data Driven Justice network for a discussion on 911 dispatch intervention strategies with a special emphasis on data collection, screening and practical local approaches to resolving 911 calls safely without unnecessary justice system involvement.
DDJ Virtual Panel Discussion: Lessons Learned from Pilot Projects
Join Data-Driven Justice (DDJ) for an engaging virtual panel discussion on the outcomes of the two-year DDJ pilot program with three communities: Johnson County, Iowa; Long Beach, Calif. and Middlesex County, Mass.
Data-Driven Justice National Listening Session: COVID-19 Impacts and Innovations Across Justice and Behavioral Health Systems
Please join Data-Driven Justice on Friday, May 22 at 2 p.m. EDT for a discussion on national and federal justice and behavioral health resources as communities continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.