CMA 2026-226 · Agenda item attachment · Aug 3 2026

CMA 2026-226 IN CITY COUNCIL August 3, 2026 To the Honorable, the City Council: I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $30,000, received from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) Jail Diversion Program, to the Grant Fund Police Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account. Funds will help enable the department to continue the current co-response program with one clinician through September 2026. In late June, DMH announced that funding for the FY27 Budget had not been finalized, and so no full year FY27 funding announcements could be made. Instead, DMH made interim short-term awards to preserve existing programs until funding decisions are made at the state level. The Department hopes to receive full year funding notifications by the end of the first quarter. Grant funds will be used to support costs related to contracting services of a specially trained clinician that will respond to mental health calls throughout the city. The program is intended to help community members experiencing a mental health crisis get the assistance they need rather than directing them into the criminal justice system, as well as reducing emergency room visits. The co-responder clinician will ride with police officers in cruisers and respond directly to calls for service where they can help evaluate and make recommendations for care on scene. Very truly yours, Yi-An Huang City Manager

City of Cambridge A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $30,000.00 from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) Jail Diversion Program Grant.