In 2015, the National Association of Counties (NACo) in collaboration with the Council of State Governments and the American Psychiatric Association launched Stepping Up, a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails.
From Stepping Up’s inception, counties and state leadership have been called engage in the program and participate in a multi-step planning process to achieve concrete results for jails and counties of all sizes.
May marks Stepping Up’s month of action, where counties are encouraged to highlight progress, showcase their team, share experiences, and encourage peers to step up for mental health. Currently, 15 of Oregon’s 36 counties have signed resolutions and are participating in the initiative. Oregon held its first statewide Stepping Up summit in 2016. The next statewide summit, hosted by the Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association and supported by the Association of Oregon Counties, will take place July 19-21 in Sunriver, Oregon. To learn more, or register for the event, click here.
NACo is urging counties to pass a resolution and join the call to action by working with other leaders, people with mental illness and their advocates, and other stakeholders in their respective states and regions to meet the goals of the initiative. To view a template resolution, click here.
For additional information connect NACo’s Stepping Up contact Natassia Walsh by email or by phone: 202-942-4289.
Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate