Subject:
Title
Program recommendation by the Public Safety Coordinating Council for Application to the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse reinvestment grant program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Public Safety Coordinating Council’s (PSCC) program recommendation for application to the Florida Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (CJMHSA) reinvestment grant program.
• As required under Chapter 394.657 Florida Statutes, the PSCC, acting as the local Planning Council, shall select a program proposal to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners (Board) for approval.
• Due to the critical grant timelines for approval and grant preparation, the PSCC held a special meeting on January 29, 2026, at 2:00pm to review and select a program to recommend for approval by the Board.
• The PSCC unanimously recommended the Pinellas SHARE program as the top proposal to be submitted as the CJMHSA grant application by the Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry Coalition. Their application is due to DCF by March 19, 2026.
• The Pinellas SHARE program will enhance comprehensive reentry and treatment services for justice-involved adults with mental illness, substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders.
• Due to submission timelines, the PSCC recommended the City of Largo’s Homeless Shelter Beds project as backup proposal in the event the top ranked proposal is unable to submit.
• This application by itself, has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve Public Health
2.2 Enhance Community Safety
Summary:
Summary
The Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC) reviewed three program proposals for the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (CJMHSA) Reinvestment Grant, to make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners for approval.
Of the three proposals, Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry Coalition (PERC)’s Pinellas SHARE initiative was unanimously selected as the top proposal. The Pinellas SHARE (Substance Abuse/Mental Health Treatment, Housing, Access to Reentry and Employment) initiative will increase public safety and improve the accessibility and effectiveness of treatment services for Pinellas County adults participating in housing services programs who have a mental illness, substance use disorder, or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders through a combination of treatment and employment initiatives including transportation specific to returning citizens or those involved or at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.
In the event PERC is unable to submit an application, the City of Largo’s Homeless Shelter Beds project was recommended as the backup proposal.
Grant applications are due for submission to DCF by March 19, 2026.
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Background Information:
The CJMHSA Reinvestment Grant Program was created by the 2007 Florida Legislature by s.394.656, F.S., and is housed within the Department of Children and Families. The purpose of the grant funding is for counties to plan, implement, or expand initiatives that promote public safety, avert future justice spending, and improve access to treatment services for justice-involved individuals.
Pursuant to §394.657, F.S., the Board of County Commissioners must designate a county Public Safety Coordinating Council established under §951.26, F.S., or the Board must designate another criminal or juvenile justice mental health and substance abuse council or committee as the planning council or committee for the Reinvestment Grant Program.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the Designation of the Public Safety Coordinating Council as the Planning Council for the Criminal Justice Reinvestment Grant at the October 16, 2007, meeting.
Fiscal Impact:
This application by itself, has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Public Safety Coordinating Council
Florida Department of Children and Families
Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry Coalition
Attachments:
PSCC Special Meeting Agenda January 29, 2026
PERC-Pinellas SHARE Proposal Submission (PSCC Recommendation)
City of Largo Proposal Submission
Vincent House Proposal Submission
DCF CJMHSA Reinvestment Grant RFA