Council committee hears Q1 DMH awards for diversion coordinator and regional crisis-intervention training

Budget Manager Michael Mastroboni told the committee the $12,000 award covers Q1 salary for a veil arrest diversion clinical coordinator who oversees assessment, clinical support, referrals and follow-up for residents at risk for incarceration and that the funds will be administered through CORE. "This request represents an award for the Q1 salary for the veil diversion clinical coordinator who oversees the assessment, clinical support, referrals, and follow-up," Mastroboni said.

Mastroboni also described a $65,000 Q1 award to support the Metro Boston Crisis Intervention Training and Technical Assistance Center, a CORE-led regional training program that provides certification, recertification and mental-health-first-aid training across the Boston metro area. Committee members asked whether training is run by Somerville staff and whether out-of-town agencies pay for participation; Mastroboni said Somerville CORE staff lead the training and that DMH grants cover operational costs rather than participant fees. Both items were laid on the table to recommend approval to the full council.