Acceptance of the FY24 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Grant AwardCity of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 18.
Copyrighted
October 21, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Acceptance of the FY24 Law Enforcement Mental Health and
Wellness Act Grant Award
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council accept the FY24
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act grant
awarded to the City of Dubuque/Dubuque Police Department
in the amount of $118,062.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. LEMHWA Grant Acceptance Memo
Page 351 of 1713
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of the FY24 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness
Act Grant Award
DATE: October 17, 2024
Assistant Chief of Police Joe Messerich is recommending City Council accept the FY24
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act grant awarded to the City of
Dubuque/Dubuque Police Department in the amount of $118,062.
This grant award will fund annual officer wellness check -ins for every sworn member of
the department and increase training for our officers (and those who support them) in
the areas of mental health and resiliency for two years and will also fund a local training
event/seminar for area law enforcement and their families on brain health and resiliency
topics once a year for two years. Additionally, this grant will fund enhanced training for
DUPD's Peer Support Team, Law Enforcement Chaplains, and Dr. Keedy and Ottavi.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
Joe Messerich, Assistant Chief of Police
Page 352 of 1713
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
AU A mp co
DUB E 11111.1
-2012-2013
Masterpiece on the Mississippi zoo
�p 2017*2019
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Assistant Chief Joe Messerich
SUBJECT: Acceptance of the FY24 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness
Act Grant Award
DATE: 10/10/24
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the Law Enforcement Mental Health and
Wellness Act grant awarded to the City of Dubuque/Dubuque Police Department be
accepted.
BACKGROUND:
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) funds are used to
improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law
enforcement through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources,
suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs. LEMHWA
grant projects aim to support state, local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement agencies
seeking to implement new or enhance existing programs that offer training and services
on officer emotional and mental health, peer mentoring, suicide prevention, stress
reduction, and support services for officers and their families. This grant program is
administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing
Services.
The Dubuque Police Department (DUPD) applied for the LEMHWA grant on April 30t"
2024. DUPD recently received notice that the grant application was successful, and the
department was awarded $118,062.
This grant award will fund annual officer wellness check -ins for every sworn member of
the department and increase training for our officers (and those who support them) in
the areas of mental health and resiliency for two years.
Dr. Keedy and Dr. Ottavi from the Medical Associates Clinics Department of Psychiatry
and Psychology will provide one annual check -in with all sworn DPD staff. Each annual
wellness check -in will entail a confidential visit lasting up to 55 minutes between each
officer in the Dubuque Police Department and a licensed psychologist experienced with
first responders and occupational resilience. Wellness checks will focus on how each
officer is identifying and coping with the stressors involved in their work in law
enforcement. The officer and psychologist will collaboratively determine areas in which
the officer may benefit from additional strategies to promote healthy coping and
emotional wellness. Officers will be provided with research -supported and relevant
psychoeducational information and resources to consult (e.g., handouts, apps, books,
Page 353 of 1713
etc.). If an officer expressed a desire to seek psychotherapeutic services, they would
be provided multiple referral options.
This grant will fund a local training event/seminar for area law enforcement and their
families on brain health and resiliency topics once a year for two years. Additionally,
this grant will fund enhanced training for DUPD's Peer Support Team, Law Enforcement
Chaplains, and Dr. Keedy and Ottavi.
GOAL(S) & PRIORITIES ADDRESSED
• Goal - Vibrant Community: Healthy and Safe
• Goal - Financially Responsible, High Performance City Organization:
Sustainable, Equitable and Effective Service Delivery
• Top Priorities - Police Department Staffing and Hiring
RECOMMENDATION:
The Dubuque Police Department will receive funding in support of officer wellness
check -ins and training to support officer mental health and resiliency in the amount of
$118,062. 1 recommend City Council accept the award amount. Contracts will be
issued at a later date.
ACTION REQUESTED:
City Council acceptance of $118,062 as a recipient of the FY24 Law Enforcement
Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Grant.
CC: Jeremy Jensen
JM/sm
Page 354 of 1713