Macomb County Community Mental Health (MCCMH) recently awarded the city of Sterling Heights with the Mental Health Matters Board of Directors Award. Sterling Heights representatives accepted the award before 250 guests at the Mental Health Matters Awards Celebration on May 15 at Macomb Community College South Campus in Warren.
Now in its third year, the Mental Health Matters Awards were created to celebrate organizations and individuals throughout Macomb County who have made a significant impact on mental health awareness and support. By recognizing these champions, MCCMH aims to inspire hope and encourage others to seek support and become involved.
Many initiatives contributed to the city of Sterling Heights achieving the Mental Health Matters Board of Directors award, including:
- Sterling Heights is one of just a few cities in the state to hire mental health case managers. Case managers are assigned to both the police department and fire department to work on mental health issues involving homelessness, hoarding, family crisis, health and self-care issues.
- Sterling Heights created the Safe Home Task Force, a holistic citywide team approach to addressing a variety of issues, including hoarding, that create safety challenges for the residents.
- Sterling Heights is leading the way in the county and state by piloting and standing up innovative substance abuse programming in partnership with Face Addiction Now. The Quick Response Team is a proactive outreach program designed to support individuals and families affected by substance use crises, and the ReDirect jail diversion program gives individuals with substance use or co-occurring disorders treatment services as an alternative to incarceration.
- In 2024, Sterling Heights was awarded a federal grant that will assist in the creation of a co-responder pilot program. This program will team up a mental health case manager with a police officer to better respond to police runs that involve mental health issues and is scheduled to start in September 2025.
- Sterling Heights Police Department helped create and supports a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training that is now being conducted at Macomb Community College on a regular basis.
- Sterling Heights Police Department recently announced a special needs registry, a voluntary and confidential tool designed to help police officers better respond to individuals with disabilities, medical conditions or unique behavioral needs during emergency situations.
“Mental health advocacy is one of the best ways to promote well-being within your community, and I’m so pleased this award recognizes our city's unwavering commitment to supporting mental health initiatives and building a community where every individual feels seen, heard, and valued,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor. “Our goal is to continue to break down stigmas while making sure that mental health remains a priority for all our residents.”
“Our honorees inspire communities through their selflessness, advocacy, and commitment to delivering quality care. It’s an honor to recognize them during Mental Health Awareness Month,” said Traci Smith, CEO of MCCMH. “Macomb County is a better place with these individuals and organizations in it. Today and every day, we thank you.”