TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced on Thursday that Kansas has been awarded over $2.6 million in funding through the Federal Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) grant program. This funding supports innovative strategies and programs designed to reduce violent crime, target risk factors likely to lead to violence, and provide behavioral health crises intervention services.

The SCIP-funded projects are directed by the SCIP Advisory Board. This seven-member board includes representatives from the courts, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, legal professionals, behavioral health providers, victim service providers, and members of the community.

The board approved funding for the following projects that align with the purpose of the SCIP grant: 

• Gun safety training programs; 

• Mobile technology for law enforcement officers to connect with behavioral health crisis co-responders; 

• Response protocols such as behavioral health providers responding with officers; 

• Creation of and support for a multi-disciplinary high-risk team and implementation of domestic violence lethality assessment; and 

• Community violence intervention strategies utilizing a public health model. 

Additionally, the Board approved funding for the evaluation of these projects to measure their effectiveness in reducing violent crime in Kansas. 

A total of $2,631,323 was awarded to eight agencies.