CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Community Counseling Center (CCC) is introducing an Early Diversion program to help people facing mental health challenges, including those who also struggle with substance use, get treatment and support before an arrest or booking into jail. The program will serve Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Perry, and Ste. Genevieve counties.
CCC will work with law enforcement, first responders, courts, healthcare providers, and other community partners to connect people with care sooner. The goal is to reduce avoidable involvement with the justice system and help people move toward stability and recovery.
The Early Diversion team will provide outreach, mental health and substance use screenings, short-term support, and follow-up to help people begin services. Staff will also connect people with housing resources, veterans’ services, and other community supports, and help address barriers such as transportation and limited access to care in rural areas.
The program will also offer community education and training. An Early Diversion Coalition will bring local partners together to identify gaps in services and improve how people are referred to care.
CCC is partnering with the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Division of Behavioral Health to carry out the program, with federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
CCC is now hiring an Early Diversion Program Coordinator and Early Diversion Outreach Specialists. These positions offer the chance to help build a new program, work with community partners, and connect people with care when they need it. Those interested in behavioral health outreach and helping others are encouraged to apply through CCC’s employment application process.
Community partners are encouraged to share these job opportunities with anyone who may be a good fit for the team.