Cherokee County Commission Adopts Resolution Participating In The National Stepping Up Month Of Action

During the Monday meeting of the Cherokee County Commission, Commissioners adopted a Resolution to participate in the National Stepping Up Month of Action in conjunction with the ongoing participation in the Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails. Stepping Up is a national initiative led by the National Association of Counties (NACo), the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and The Council of State Governments Justice Center and provides counties with a framework and tools for creating a collaborative, system-wide plan to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in the county jail in ways that not  only improve public safety but promote positive outcomes for individuals with mental illnesses, their families and their communities. The Stepping Up Initiative was brought to Cherokee County in 2017 by Commissioner Marcie Foster as her “passion project” with the PLAN Leadership Program with the Association of County Commissions of Alabama.

The following events are scheduled as part of the Month of Action and the public is encouraged to attend and participate:

May 13, 2019 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Coalition of Community Services Meeting
Administrative Building Conference Room
260 Cedar Bluff Road, Centre, AL 35960

Speakers from The Right Place and CED Mental Health will discuss the Mental Health 1st Aid class and the grant that is making it available to the public.

May 14, 2019 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
Mental Health 1st Aid Class

Administrative Building Conference Room
260 Cedar Bluff Road, Centre, AL 35960
Registration:
Julie Hope at The Right Place (256)238-6231 or by email Julie.hope@the-Right-Place.org

May 14, 2019 6:00 pm
Stepping Up Cherokee County Presentation

Administrative Building Conference Room
260 Cedar Bluff Road, Centre, AL 35960

Sam Griggs, LBSW will have a presentation of the Stepping Up Cherokee County program. Sam has been working since November inside the Cherokee County Detention Center to evaluate every arrestee or potential arrestee that comes into the jail for mental illness and substance abuse problems. Mr. Griggs then works with partner agencies and community services of CED Mental Health to get treatment and services in place, reducing the amount of time a person is in the jail and helping them towards recovery.

May 21, 2019 6:00 pm
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Centre meeting
The ROC 300 E. Bypass, Centre, Al 35960
Contact: Sue Guffy at (256)927-4868 or suenami@charter.net

More information on the national Stepping Up initiative is available at:
www.StepUpTogether.org.

In other business during the meeting, the commission approved excess land redemptions for Coy Deaton and Daniel St. Clair.

Andy Ellis and Grant Ratliff were appointed to the Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport Authority to fill three year terms ending in January 2022. Cindy Cline was appointed to the CED Mental Health Board to fill a six year term ending 2025.

The commission also approved to declare a 2003 Chevy Blazer from the EMA Office as surplus to be sold at public auction.

The commission then entered into an Executive Session to discuss the Purchase or Sale of Property, upon returning they approved a lease agreement with ELA Trucking to lease the Weiss Lake Egg Plant facility on Highway 411 just outside of Centre.

The next regular meeting of the Cherokee County Commission will be Monday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m.

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