PARYŻ i NOWY JORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Międzynarodowa Izba Handlowa (ICC) i Carbon Measures przekazały dzisiaj informację o składzie pierwszej grupy ekspertów, którzy zasiądą w Technicznym Panelu Ekspertów ds. Rozliczeń Emisji Dwutlenku Węgla odpowiedzialnym za określenie zasad, zakresu i rzeczywistych zastosowań systemu rozliczania emisji dwutlenku węgla. W skład panelu wchodzą wybitni liderzy i eksperci z sektorów przemysłu, nauki, społeczeństwa obywatelskiego i środowiska akademickiego, repreze
Month: January 2026
Międzynarodowa Izba Handlowa i Carbon Measures ogłaszają skład pierwszej grupy światowych ekspertów na potrzeby panelu ds. rozliczeń emisji dwutlenku węgla
PARYŻ i NOWY JORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Międzynarodowa Izba Handlowa (ICC) i Carbon Measures przekazały dzisiaj informację o składzie pierwszej grupy ekspertów, którzy zasiądą w Technicznym Panelu Ekspertów ds. Rozliczeń Emisji Dwutlenku Węgla odpowiedzialnym za określenie zasad, zakresu i rzeczywistych zastosowań systemu rozliczania emisji dwutlenku węgla. W skład panelu wchodzą wybitni liderzy i eksperci z sektorów przemysłu, nauki, społeczeństwa obywatelskiego i środowiska akademickiego, repreze
Colgate-Palmolive and WHO Foundation Announce Global Partnership on Oral Health
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– #ColgatePalmolive–Today, Colgate-Palmolive announced a new multi-year collaboration with the WHO Foundation to support the World Health Organization’s work on oral health. The four-year funding commitment will help expand oral health education, support integration of oral health into national health systems, and raise awareness of oral health as a public health priority. This initiative builds on Colgate’s commitment to providing communities with oral health education and resources. Th
Colgate-Palmolive and WHO Foundation Announce Global Partnership on Oral Health
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– #ColgatePalmolive–Today, Colgate-Palmolive announced a new multi-year collaboration with the WHO Foundation to support the World Health Organization’s work on oral health. The four-year funding commitment will help expand oral health education, support integration of oral health into national health systems, and raise awareness of oral health as a public health priority. This initiative builds on Colgate’s commitment to providing communities with oral health education and resources. Th
REGACE: Agrivoltaics in Greenhouses Can Deliver 23% of Europe’s Renewable Energy Needs
REGACE webinar on January 29 demonstrates how greenhouses can produce clean energy while maintaining yields and lowering costs for farmers.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The EU is rapidly increasing its renewable energy targets, with solar power playing a central role in achieving these goals. The EU-funded REGACE Project shows that installing photovoltaic panels on existing greenhouse structures could provide around 23 percent of the solar capacity needed across Europe with sufficient investment.
This approach also reduces carbon emissions and decreases upfront investment costs compared with traditional ground-mounted solar systems.
These findings will take center stage during the REGACE final conference, which brings together stakeholders from agriculture, energy, research, and public authorities. A key highlight is the online webinar entitled Agrivoltaics in Greenhouses Turning Sunlight into Energy and Crops, taking place on January 29, 2026, from 10:00 to 13:00 CET.
The webinar is designed to support farmers, policymakers, researchers, and public authorities looking for practical and scalable solutions that align renewable energy deployment with sustainable food production.
Studies show that relying mainly on ground-mounted photovoltaic systems could require one to two percent of farmland in some countries to meet 2030 goals. By installing PV panels on existing greenhouse structures, renewable energy can be generated with almost zero additional land use.
Modelling shows that in countries such as Israel, Romania, and Croatia, greenhouse-based PV could supply more than 40% of the solar capacity required by 2030. Across Europe, the average contribution reaches 23%.
Traditional open field agrivoltaic systems rely on heavy steel structures and concrete foundations, resulting in higher carbon footprints and costs. REGACE greenhouse systems reuse existing frames, reducing iron use from 103 kilograms per kilowatt to 48 kilograms. This lowers the carbon footprint from 196 to 84 kilograms of CO2 per kilowatt and cuts investment costs by around 24%.
“As Europe searches for solutions that support both food security and climate goals, greenhouse agrivoltaics stands out as a practical and scalable option,” said REGACE coordinator Dr. Ibrahim Yehia of the Alzahrawy Society. “REGACE proves that we can turn existing agricultural infrastructure into clean energy assets, while keeping farms productive and resilient.”
To register to the webinar click here.
About REGACE
The REGACE project is dedicated to developing innovative agrivoltaics technology which uses CO2 enrichment to sustainably increase electricity production.
For more information about REGACE Project, please visit: https://regaceproject.com/.
Contact
Dan Gerstenfeld
Interteam
dan@interteam.co.il
+972-523745989
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regace-agrivoltaics-in-greenhouses-can-deliver-23-of-europes-renewable-energy-needs-302665356.html
SOURCE REGACE
REGACE: Agrivoltaics in Greenhouses Can Deliver 23% of Europe’s Renewable Energy Needs
REGACE webinar on January 29 demonstrates how greenhouses can produce clean energy while maintaining yields and lowering costs for farmers.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The EU is rapidly increasing its renewable energy targets, with solar power playing a central role in achieving these goals. The EU-funded REGACE Project shows that installing photovoltaic panels on existing greenhouse structures could provide around 23 percent of the solar capacity needed across Europe with sufficient investment.
This approach also reduces carbon emissions and decreases upfront investment costs compared with traditional ground-mounted solar systems.
These findings will take center stage during the REGACE final conference, which brings together stakeholders from agriculture, energy, research, and public authorities. A key highlight is the online webinar entitled Agrivoltaics in Greenhouses Turning Sunlight into Energy and Crops, taking place on January 29, 2026, from 10:00 to 13:00 CET.
The webinar is designed to support farmers, policymakers, researchers, and public authorities looking for practical and scalable solutions that align renewable energy deployment with sustainable food production.
Studies show that relying mainly on ground-mounted photovoltaic systems could require one to two percent of farmland in some countries to meet 2030 goals. By installing PV panels on existing greenhouse structures, renewable energy can be generated with almost zero additional land use.
Modelling shows that in countries such as Israel, Romania, and Croatia, greenhouse-based PV could supply more than 40% of the solar capacity required by 2030. Across Europe, the average contribution reaches 23%.
Traditional open field agrivoltaic systems rely on heavy steel structures and concrete foundations, resulting in higher carbon footprints and costs. REGACE greenhouse systems reuse existing frames, reducing iron use from 103 kilograms per kilowatt to 48 kilograms. This lowers the carbon footprint from 196 to 84 kilograms of CO2 per kilowatt and cuts investment costs by around 24%.
“As Europe searches for solutions that support both food security and climate goals, greenhouse agrivoltaics stands out as a practical and scalable option,” said REGACE coordinator Dr. Ibrahim Yehia of the Alzahrawy Society. “REGACE proves that we can turn existing agricultural infrastructure into clean energy assets, while keeping farms productive and resilient.”
To register to the webinar click here.
About REGACE
The REGACE project is dedicated to developing innovative agrivoltaics technology which uses CO2 enrichment to sustainably increase electricity production.
For more information about REGACE Project, please visit: https://regaceproject.com/.
Contact
Dan Gerstenfeld
Interteam
dan@interteam.co.il
+972-523745989
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regace-agrivoltaics-in-greenhouses-can-deliver-23-of-europes-renewable-energy-needs-302665356.html
SOURCE REGACE
REGACE: Agrivoltaics in Greenhouses Can Deliver 23% of Europe’s Renewable Energy Needs
REGACE webinar on January 29 demonstrates how greenhouses can produce clean energy while maintaining yields and lowering costs for farmers.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The EU is rapidly increasing its renewable energy targets, with solar power playing a central role in achieving these goals. The EU-funded REGACE Project shows that installing photovoltaic panels on existing greenhouse structures could provide around 23 percent of the solar capacity needed across Europe with sufficient investment.
This approach also reduces carbon emissions and decreases upfront investment costs compared with traditional ground-mounted solar systems.
These findings will take center stage during the REGACE final conference, which brings together stakeholders from agriculture, energy, research, and public authorities. A key highlight is the online webinar entitled Agrivoltaics in Greenhouses Turning Sunlight into Energy and Crops, taking place on January 29, 2026, from 10:00 to 13:00 CET.
The webinar is designed to support farmers, policymakers, researchers, and public authorities looking for practical and scalable solutions that align renewable energy deployment with sustainable food production.
Studies show that relying mainly on ground-mounted photovoltaic systems could require one to two percent of farmland in some countries to meet 2030 goals. By installing PV panels on existing greenhouse structures, renewable energy can be generated with almost zero additional land use.
Modelling shows that in countries such as Israel, Romania, and Croatia, greenhouse-based PV could supply more than 40% of the solar capacity required by 2030. Across Europe, the average contribution reaches 23%.
Traditional open field agrivoltaic systems rely on heavy steel structures and concrete foundations, resulting in higher carbon footprints and costs. REGACE greenhouse systems reuse existing frames, reducing iron use from 103 kilograms per kilowatt to 48 kilograms. This lowers the carbon footprint from 196 to 84 kilograms of CO2 per kilowatt and cuts investment costs by around 24%.
“As Europe searches for solutions that support both food security and climate goals, greenhouse agrivoltaics stands out as a practical and scalable option,” said REGACE coordinator Dr. Ibrahim Yehia of the Alzahrawy Society. “REGACE proves that we can turn existing agricultural infrastructure into clean energy assets, while keeping farms productive and resilient.”
To register to the webinar click here.
About REGACE
The REGACE project is dedicated to developing innovative agrivoltaics technology which uses CO2 enrichment to sustainably increase electricity production.
For more information about REGACE Project, please visit: https://regaceproject.com/.
Contact
Dan Gerstenfeld
Interteam
dan@interteam.co.il
+972-523745989
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regace-agrivoltaics-in-greenhouses-can-deliver-23-of-europes-renewable-energy-needs-302665356.html
SOURCE REGACE
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Launches National Program to Bolster Mental Health Diversion Initiatives
BMS Foundation’s new focus area aims to expand access to behavioral health services for medically underserved individuals, reduce incarceration and recidivism.
Inaugural grants are supporting crisis response, community-based treatment, court-based intervention, and longer-term care coordination.
Originally published on BMS.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization, recently announced that it has established a new strategic focus area dedicated to strengthening mental health diversion programs in the United States.
The BMS Foundation’s Brain Health program, one of the organization’s four focus areas, along with adult cancers, pediatric cancers and childhood blood disorders, and clinical trials, was created under a new strategic framework centered around building local healthcare capacity and accelerating access to care. Within this focus area, the Mental Health Diversion Program is anchored by grants to national and community-based diversion initiatives.
Through this new effort, the BMS Foundation is supporting national and local organizations working to direct people with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) away from the criminal justice system and toward community-based treatment. Funding will support the testing of innovative new care models, including novel approaches to triage, crisis response, and longer-term care coordination, all aimed at strengthening capacity to respond effectively and sustainably to critical behavioral health needs.
People with mental illnesses are dramatically overrepresented in the criminal justice system. According to a Department of Justice study, 44% of people in jail and 37% of incarcerated individuals are living with mental health conditions. Each year, an estimated more than 1.7 million individuals with SMI are booked into American jails.
Law enforcement, the courts, and jails and prisons typically aren’t equipped to evaluate and meet the behavioral health needs of people with SMI – yet the criminal justice system is often the default first responder for mental health crises. Mental health diversion programs, however, have emerged as a promising alternative, with different programs offering interventions at the pre-arrest, pre-charge, or post-charge stage.
“Like anyone experiencing a medical issue, people living with serious mental illnesses deserve access to the best possible care,” said Catharine Grimes, president of the BMS Foundation. “But too often, mental health issues lead to incarceration and re-incarceration because people in crisis don’t have timely access to the care and support they need. The BMS Foundation is working to shift that status quo and break the cycle of incarceration by helping divert patients into care, not custody. By supporting visionary organizations across the country, we are helping create viable alternatives that address critical gaps in mental health care systems.”
To launch this new strategic initiative, the BMS Foundation has awarded four grants this year to support a range of evidence-based diversion strategies across key intervention points, including:
- Crisis response programs that deploy mental health professionals alongside or instead of law enforcement;
- Court-based diversion initiatives that connect individuals to treatment as an alternative to prosecution or incarceration;
- Long-term care coordination that provides sustained support to prevent future justice system involvement.
Equipping Judges to Connect Defendants with SMI to Care
At the national level, the BMS Foundation is supporting the expansion of the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI), a program that strengthens judicial responses to serious mental illness in the courtroom. Through a cross-disciplinary model that pairs judges with psychiatrists, JPLI increases opportunities for diversion and connects defendants to appropriate treatment. A collaboration between the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the National Center for State Courts, the initiative plans to train 10,000 judges nationwide by 2030 to reduce recidivism and improve patient outcomes.
“We are deeply honored that the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation has trusted us with this mandate to expand our efforts at diversion for individuals struggling with their mental health,” said Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director of the APA Foundation. “At the APA Foundation, we are committed to closing gaps in mental health awareness and mental health care access. Promoting diversion from the justice system through our Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI) is one of the most meaningful ways that we do so.”
Bringing Care Directly to Miami’s Most Underserved Communities
In Miami-Dade County, where a significant portion of the jail population is living with mental illness, the BMS Foundation is supporting two community-led diversion efforts.
One of those Miami-area efforts is led by the Advocate Program, a not-for-profit organization providing probation, diversion, and wraparound services for court-ordered individuals. Alongside the Miami Foundation for Mental Health and the University of Miami, the organization is piloting a new interdisciplinary program, pairing care coordination and peer support specialists to support chronically underserved adults who have faced repeated justice involvement and homelessness.
“We are grateful for this remarkable opportunity to finally break the cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and emergency hospitalization for the most vulnerable individuals,” said Judge Steve Leifman (Ret.), Board Member at the Miami Foundation for Mental Health. “This grant allows us to build a compassionate, coordinated response that ensures people living with serious mental illness receive the care, support, and stability they deserve.”
Isabel Perez-Morina, Ph.D., CEO of the Advocate Program, added, “This grant is truly transformative, for our clients, for our community, and for our organization. It strengthens our ability to build a care coordination and peer recovery system to improve outcomes for people living with serious mental illness. With this support, we can surround each individual with a team that walks with them, advocates for them, and ensures they receive the services needed for long-term recovery.”
The second program the BMS Foundation is supporting in Miami is led by Dade County Street Response (DCSR), a nonprofit that operates a mobile crisis unit and provides behavioral health and wraparound services to medically underserved community members experiencing mental health crises. The BMS Foundation’s grant is helping DCSR build its clinical and support staffing capacity, increase the deployment of its crisis unit, and enhance the operation of its emergency phone line staffed by intervention specialists.
“With the support of the BMS Foundation, Dade County Street Response (DCSR) is expanding its efforts to address urgent mental health care needs in our community,” said Dr. Armen Henderson, founder and executive director of DCSR. “By intervening in psychiatric crises early and compassionately, our trained medical and behavioral health professionals work to de-escalate mental health emergencies with care, dignity and clinical expertise, and reduce involuntary hospitalizations. Ultimately, DCSR seeks to transform crisis response in Miami, and the BMS Foundation’s grant will help us do just that.”
Strengthening Mental Health Crisis Response in Rural Georgia
The BMS Foundation is also supporting an effort in Decatur County, Georgia – a majority rural area with high poverty and incarceration rates – to establish a mental health co-responder program. This initiative, led by Georgia Pines Community Service Board, embeds behavioral health specialists with law enforcement to assist with de-escalation and care coordination for emergency mental health calls.
“This new program in Decatur County aims to provide compassionate, community-based responses to behavioral health crises by pairing mental health professionals with law enforcement,” said RJ Hurn, CEO of Georgia Pines Community Service Board. “In partnership with the BMS Foundation, this grant is helping us expand our reach and improve training to better serve individuals in crisis and support long-term recovery.”
Building Sustainable Care
Reflecting on the launch of these initial projects, the BMS Foundation’s Grimes added, “Our goal is to help patients live fuller, healthier lives while making the criminal justice system a last resort for mental health crises. Through these partnerships, we’re helping build sustainable solutions that will keep more people out of jail and on a path to recovery.”
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Launches National Program to Bolster Mental Health Diversion Initiatives
BMS Foundation’s new focus area aims to expand access to behavioral health services for medically underserved individuals, reduce incarceration and recidivism.
Inaugural grants are supporting crisis response, community-based treatment, court-based intervention, and longer-term care coordination.
Originally published on BMS.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization, recently announced that it has established a new strategic focus area dedicated to strengthening mental health diversion programs in the United States.
The BMS Foundation’s Brain Health program, one of the organization’s four focus areas, along with adult cancers, pediatric cancers and childhood blood disorders, and clinical trials, was created under a new strategic framework centered around building local healthcare capacity and accelerating access to care. Within this focus area, the Mental Health Diversion Program is anchored by grants to national and community-based diversion initiatives.
Through this new effort, the BMS Foundation is supporting national and local organizations working to direct people with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) away from the criminal justice system and toward community-based treatment. Funding will support the testing of innovative new care models, including novel approaches to triage, crisis response, and longer-term care coordination, all aimed at strengthening capacity to respond effectively and sustainably to critical behavioral health needs.
People with mental illnesses are dramatically overrepresented in the criminal justice system. According to a Department of Justice study, 44% of people in jail and 37% of incarcerated individuals are living with mental health conditions. Each year, an estimated more than 1.7 million individuals with SMI are booked into American jails.
Law enforcement, the courts, and jails and prisons typically aren’t equipped to evaluate and meet the behavioral health needs of people with SMI – yet the criminal justice system is often the default first responder for mental health crises. Mental health diversion programs, however, have emerged as a promising alternative, with different programs offering interventions at the pre-arrest, pre-charge, or post-charge stage.
“Like anyone experiencing a medical issue, people living with serious mental illnesses deserve access to the best possible care,” said Catharine Grimes, president of the BMS Foundation. “But too often, mental health issues lead to incarceration and re-incarceration because people in crisis don’t have timely access to the care and support they need. The BMS Foundation is working to shift that status quo and break the cycle of incarceration by helping divert patients into care, not custody. By supporting visionary organizations across the country, we are helping create viable alternatives that address critical gaps in mental health care systems.”
To launch this new strategic initiative, the BMS Foundation has awarded four grants this year to support a range of evidence-based diversion strategies across key intervention points, including:
- Crisis response programs that deploy mental health professionals alongside or instead of law enforcement;
- Court-based diversion initiatives that connect individuals to treatment as an alternative to prosecution or incarceration;
- Long-term care coordination that provides sustained support to prevent future justice system involvement.
Equipping Judges to Connect Defendants with SMI to Care
At the national level, the BMS Foundation is supporting the expansion of the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI), a program that strengthens judicial responses to serious mental illness in the courtroom. Through a cross-disciplinary model that pairs judges with psychiatrists, JPLI increases opportunities for diversion and connects defendants to appropriate treatment. A collaboration between the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the National Center for State Courts, the initiative plans to train 10,000 judges nationwide by 2030 to reduce recidivism and improve patient outcomes.
“We are deeply honored that the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation has trusted us with this mandate to expand our efforts at diversion for individuals struggling with their mental health,” said Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director of the APA Foundation. “At the APA Foundation, we are committed to closing gaps in mental health awareness and mental health care access. Promoting diversion from the justice system through our Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI) is one of the most meaningful ways that we do so.”
Bringing Care Directly to Miami’s Most Underserved Communities
In Miami-Dade County, where a significant portion of the jail population is living with mental illness, the BMS Foundation is supporting two community-led diversion efforts.
One of those Miami-area efforts is led by the Advocate Program, a not-for-profit organization providing probation, diversion, and wraparound services for court-ordered individuals. Alongside the Miami Foundation for Mental Health and the University of Miami, the organization is piloting a new interdisciplinary program, pairing care coordination and peer support specialists to support chronically underserved adults who have faced repeated justice involvement and homelessness.
“We are grateful for this remarkable opportunity to finally break the cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and emergency hospitalization for the most vulnerable individuals,” said Judge Steve Leifman (Ret.), Board Member at the Miami Foundation for Mental Health. “This grant allows us to build a compassionate, coordinated response that ensures people living with serious mental illness receive the care, support, and stability they deserve.”
Isabel Perez-Morina, Ph.D., CEO of the Advocate Program, added, “This grant is truly transformative, for our clients, for our community, and for our organization. It strengthens our ability to build a care coordination and peer recovery system to improve outcomes for people living with serious mental illness. With this support, we can surround each individual with a team that walks with them, advocates for them, and ensures they receive the services needed for long-term recovery.”
The second program the BMS Foundation is supporting in Miami is led by Dade County Street Response (DCSR), a nonprofit that operates a mobile crisis unit and provides behavioral health and wraparound services to medically underserved community members experiencing mental health crises. The BMS Foundation’s grant is helping DCSR build its clinical and support staffing capacity, increase the deployment of its crisis unit, and enhance the operation of its emergency phone line staffed by intervention specialists.
“With the support of the BMS Foundation, Dade County Street Response (DCSR) is expanding its efforts to address urgent mental health care needs in our community,” said Dr. Armen Henderson, founder and executive director of DCSR. “By intervening in psychiatric crises early and compassionately, our trained medical and behavioral health professionals work to de-escalate mental health emergencies with care, dignity and clinical expertise, and reduce involuntary hospitalizations. Ultimately, DCSR seeks to transform crisis response in Miami, and the BMS Foundation’s grant will help us do just that.”
Strengthening Mental Health Crisis Response in Rural Georgia
The BMS Foundation is also supporting an effort in Decatur County, Georgia – a majority rural area with high poverty and incarceration rates – to establish a mental health co-responder program. This initiative, led by Georgia Pines Community Service Board, embeds behavioral health specialists with law enforcement to assist with de-escalation and care coordination for emergency mental health calls.
“This new program in Decatur County aims to provide compassionate, community-based responses to behavioral health crises by pairing mental health professionals with law enforcement,” said RJ Hurn, CEO of Georgia Pines Community Service Board. “In partnership with the BMS Foundation, this grant is helping us expand our reach and improve training to better serve individuals in crisis and support long-term recovery.”
Building Sustainable Care
Reflecting on the launch of these initial projects, the BMS Foundation’s Grimes added, “Our goal is to help patients live fuller, healthier lives while making the criminal justice system a last resort for mental health crises. Through these partnerships, we’re helping build sustainable solutions that will keep more people out of jail and on a path to recovery.”
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Launches National Program to Bolster Mental Health Diversion Initiatives
BMS Foundation’s new focus area aims to expand access to behavioral health services for medically underserved individuals, reduce incarceration and recidivism.
Inaugural grants are supporting crisis response, community-based treatment, court-based intervention, and longer-term care coordination.
Originally published on BMS.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization, recently announced that it has established a new strategic focus area dedicated to strengthening mental health diversion programs in the United States.
The BMS Foundation’s Brain Health program, one of the organization’s four focus areas, along with adult cancers, pediatric cancers and childhood blood disorders, and clinical trials, was created under a new strategic framework centered around building local healthcare capacity and accelerating access to care. Within this focus area, the Mental Health Diversion Program is anchored by grants to national and community-based diversion initiatives.
Through this new effort, the BMS Foundation is supporting national and local organizations working to direct people with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) away from the criminal justice system and toward community-based treatment. Funding will support the testing of innovative new care models, including novel approaches to triage, crisis response, and longer-term care coordination, all aimed at strengthening capacity to respond effectively and sustainably to critical behavioral health needs.
People with mental illnesses are dramatically overrepresented in the criminal justice system. According to a Department of Justice study, 44% of people in jail and 37% of incarcerated individuals are living with mental health conditions. Each year, an estimated more than 1.7 million individuals with SMI are booked into American jails.
Law enforcement, the courts, and jails and prisons typically aren’t equipped to evaluate and meet the behavioral health needs of people with SMI – yet the criminal justice system is often the default first responder for mental health crises. Mental health diversion programs, however, have emerged as a promising alternative, with different programs offering interventions at the pre-arrest, pre-charge, or post-charge stage.
“Like anyone experiencing a medical issue, people living with serious mental illnesses deserve access to the best possible care,” said Catharine Grimes, president of the BMS Foundation. “But too often, mental health issues lead to incarceration and re-incarceration because people in crisis don’t have timely access to the care and support they need. The BMS Foundation is working to shift that status quo and break the cycle of incarceration by helping divert patients into care, not custody. By supporting visionary organizations across the country, we are helping create viable alternatives that address critical gaps in mental health care systems.”
To launch this new strategic initiative, the BMS Foundation has awarded four grants this year to support a range of evidence-based diversion strategies across key intervention points, including:
- Crisis response programs that deploy mental health professionals alongside or instead of law enforcement;
- Court-based diversion initiatives that connect individuals to treatment as an alternative to prosecution or incarceration;
- Long-term care coordination that provides sustained support to prevent future justice system involvement.
Equipping Judges to Connect Defendants with SMI to Care
At the national level, the BMS Foundation is supporting the expansion of the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI), a program that strengthens judicial responses to serious mental illness in the courtroom. Through a cross-disciplinary model that pairs judges with psychiatrists, JPLI increases opportunities for diversion and connects defendants to appropriate treatment. A collaboration between the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the National Center for State Courts, the initiative plans to train 10,000 judges nationwide by 2030 to reduce recidivism and improve patient outcomes.
“We are deeply honored that the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation has trusted us with this mandate to expand our efforts at diversion for individuals struggling with their mental health,” said Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director of the APA Foundation. “At the APA Foundation, we are committed to closing gaps in mental health awareness and mental health care access. Promoting diversion from the justice system through our Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI) is one of the most meaningful ways that we do so.”
Bringing Care Directly to Miami’s Most Underserved Communities
In Miami-Dade County, where a significant portion of the jail population is living with mental illness, the BMS Foundation is supporting two community-led diversion efforts.
One of those Miami-area efforts is led by the Advocate Program, a not-for-profit organization providing probation, diversion, and wraparound services for court-ordered individuals. Alongside the Miami Foundation for Mental Health and the University of Miami, the organization is piloting a new interdisciplinary program, pairing care coordination and peer support specialists to support chronically underserved adults who have faced repeated justice involvement and homelessness.
“We are grateful for this remarkable opportunity to finally break the cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and emergency hospitalization for the most vulnerable individuals,” said Judge Steve Leifman (Ret.), Board Member at the Miami Foundation for Mental Health. “This grant allows us to build a compassionate, coordinated response that ensures people living with serious mental illness receive the care, support, and stability they deserve.”
Isabel Perez-Morina, Ph.D., CEO of the Advocate Program, added, “This grant is truly transformative, for our clients, for our community, and for our organization. It strengthens our ability to build a care coordination and peer recovery system to improve outcomes for people living with serious mental illness. With this support, we can surround each individual with a team that walks with them, advocates for them, and ensures they receive the services needed for long-term recovery.”
The second program the BMS Foundation is supporting in Miami is led by Dade County Street Response (DCSR), a nonprofit that operates a mobile crisis unit and provides behavioral health and wraparound services to medically underserved community members experiencing mental health crises. The BMS Foundation’s grant is helping DCSR build its clinical and support staffing capacity, increase the deployment of its crisis unit, and enhance the operation of its emergency phone line staffed by intervention specialists.
“With the support of the BMS Foundation, Dade County Street Response (DCSR) is expanding its efforts to address urgent mental health care needs in our community,” said Dr. Armen Henderson, founder and executive director of DCSR. “By intervening in psychiatric crises early and compassionately, our trained medical and behavioral health professionals work to de-escalate mental health emergencies with care, dignity and clinical expertise, and reduce involuntary hospitalizations. Ultimately, DCSR seeks to transform crisis response in Miami, and the BMS Foundation’s grant will help us do just that.”
Strengthening Mental Health Crisis Response in Rural Georgia
The BMS Foundation is also supporting an effort in Decatur County, Georgia – a majority rural area with high poverty and incarceration rates – to establish a mental health co-responder program. This initiative, led by Georgia Pines Community Service Board, embeds behavioral health specialists with law enforcement to assist with de-escalation and care coordination for emergency mental health calls.
“This new program in Decatur County aims to provide compassionate, community-based responses to behavioral health crises by pairing mental health professionals with law enforcement,” said RJ Hurn, CEO of Georgia Pines Community Service Board. “In partnership with the BMS Foundation, this grant is helping us expand our reach and improve training to better serve individuals in crisis and support long-term recovery.”
Building Sustainable Care
Reflecting on the launch of these initial projects, the BMS Foundation’s Grimes added, “Our goal is to help patients live fuller, healthier lives while making the criminal justice system a last resort for mental health crises. Through these partnerships, we’re helping build sustainable solutions that will keep more people out of jail and on a path to recovery.”
