Boone County News Release

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Boone County Commission to Recognize Stepping Up Day of Action

May 14, 2018 – On Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 1:30PM in the Boone County Government Center Commission Chambers, the Boone County Commission will issue a proclamation recognizing Stepping Up Day of Action and three years’ worth of commitment by organizations throughout Boone County to this initiative. A reception will be held immediately following the meeting to review the many accomplishments within our community in the past three years and to recommit to Stepping Up in Boone County.

The Stepping Up Initiative is a national effort to reduce the number of people with mental illness in county jails. Boone County Commission issued a proclamation committing to the Stepping Up Initiative on May 21, 2015, becoming one of the first counties in the nation to join since its launch earlier that month. Involvement in the Initiative began with the Boone County Judicial and Law Enforcement Task Force (JLETF). As the importance of Stepping Up became evident, the meetings of the seven-member board ballooned to over 40 attendees, including representatives from law enforcement, corrections, courts, juvenile division, county government, mental health, medical and legal fields. In the past three years, significant progress has been made to educate community members and groups through training and presentations; collaborate across professions to recognize complimentary services; gather and analyze relevant data to better identify those in need; increase mental health screenings and supervision following contact with law enforcement; and to secure additional funds through grant proposals.

Founded by the National Association of Counties, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Foundation, the Stepping Up Initiative is encouraging public, private and nonprofit partners to collaborate to develop ways to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system and into treatment. Additionally, the Initiative serves as a means to share information and best practices with other counties throughout the nation.

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The Government of Boone County, Missouri employs over 500 people and serves more than 162,642 citizens across 691 square miles by administering and enforcing state and local laws, collecting taxes, assessing property, maintaining roads, conducting elections, recording public documents, and much more.