Tennessee Lands $660K Grant For Behavioral Health Training

Six Upper Cumberland counties will benefit from a federal behavioral health training grant.

The State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse said the $660,000 expands crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers.

Department officials said the 40-hour training program aims to improve outcomes of officers’ encounters with people dealing with behavioral health challenges.

The City of Memphis first implemented the initiative 31-years ago. The program has grown to include 18 of Tennessee’s 95 counties.

The latest round of grant funding benefits Sumner, Wilson, Smith, DeKalb, White, Putnam, Overton and Cumberland counties.