Reimagining America’s Crisis Response Systems

**This solicitation may be a good fit for programs that have existing relationships with crisis stabilization, response, and diversion facilities. If you have current programs to support clients experiencing crisis related to mental illness, substance use, or homelessness in addition please read the solicitation to learn more.**

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) is committed to leveraging the power of data, research, and innovation to improve community safety by reducing crime, increasing police effectiveness, and working to ensure that laws are enforced in a fair and equitable way. 

Individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, or homelessness require evidence based, preventive treatment to achieve improved outcomes. Too often, the needs of these vulnerable populations are not only unmet, but inadvertently worsened by emergency response systems. With police having to act as the primary responders to a crisis, individuals often end up in situations that lead to the use of force, arrest, and/or incarceration. These approaches fail to address individuals’ underlying health, societal, and financial struggles; are cost-inefficient; and cause significant harm to both the individual and the community.

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation are working to identify and help implement evidence-based policies and programs that can reduce the use of force, arrest, and/or incarceration, and instead connect vulnerable populations to evidence-based treatment programs and services for improved outcomes. To support this goal, LJAF seeks proposals for evaluations of (1) emergency response programs for individuals in moments of crisis, (2) post-crisis stabilization facilities, and/or (3) treatment programs and services funded by governments or other entities. Evaluations should focus on outcomes for individuals whose vulnerabilities include mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or homelessness.

LJAF will host a Q&A webinar on the RFP on October 5, 2018 at 3:00 PM EST. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. Attendees should sign up for the webinar using this form.