Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen has announced the Indiana Community Cares Initiative, a statewide program that would enable communities to invest in proactive and sustainable paramedicine resources designed to rehabilitate at-risk Hoosiers while reducing public safety expenses across the state of Indiana.
Jensen
“Indiana has been a leader throughout the nation in helping to erase the stigma around mental health. It is now time to put words into actions,” Jensen said. “Communities across Indiana are starting to make serious investments in mental health resources. These resources are showing signs of improving our state’s overall health and wellness, but a more holistic approach is needed for all Hoosiers.”
The Indiana Community Cares grant program will allow cities and towns that have invested in a paramedicine program or a mobile integrated healthcare program to apply for an annual $150,000 grant to be used to fund the critical human infrastructure needed for the paramedicine program.
For example, in many communities, the missing component to a more holistic set of services has been access to a licensed clinical social worker to collaborate with first responders on response and intervention strategies. Jensen said this grant will be applied for annually, with a three-year sunset provision.
“The goal is to incentivize municipalities to invest in paramedicine programs that will enhance lives and ultimately be a cost-saving measure for our state,” Jensen said. “In addition, the program will seek to explore incentives for those individuals seeking mental health accreditation or degrees to stay in Indiana to continue to build a Hoosier talent pipeline to meet demand.”
In 2020, Noblesville launched the NobleACT program, a proactive paramedicine program aimed at strengthening community-based responses through a partnership with the city’s police and fire departments and area service providers. Since its inception, the NobleACT program has responded to more than 6,000 calls for help to appropriately address issues like housing, mental health episodes, and addiction issues with the help of therapy dogs Luna, Carbon, and Sadie.
“This investment has shown great success in giving a hand-up to our at-risk citizens and helping ease the burden on our public safety department, which makes up 50.1 percent of our annual operating budget,” Jensen said. “Localities in Indiana and throughout the country have been in communication with Noblesville to attempt to implement similar programs in their communities.”
Noblesville and Hamilton County worked with the legislature in 2021 to support House Enrolled Act 1118, which allowed for more effective information sharing of individualized mental health safety plans between first responders and healthcare providers to improve treatment outcomes and decrease instances of repeat mental health crisis calls for service.
Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-Noblesville) will champion legislation authorizing the program during the 2024 legislative session and continue to work with executive branch agencies and other stakeholders to implement best practices.
Baldwin
“As a retired police officer, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges of untreated mental health in our communities,” Baldwin said. “The success of Noblesville’s NobleACT program underscores the need for proactive approaches like the Indiana Community Cares Initiative. I’m committed to advancing this vital initiative, enabling Indiana to partner with communities in an effort to ensure every Hoosier receives the support they deserve.”
Mayor Jensen, who serves as chair of the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities Legislative Committee, has prioritized mental health and wellbeing initiatives throughout his time in office. His administration has also worked to increase access to wellbeing and treatment resources for public safety and city employees and their dependents. He also worked with Noblesville Schools to launch the Noblesville Wellbeing Coalition and hosts “Mental Health Mondays” on Facebook Live with a local licensed mental health therapist.