In a coordinated effort to support those in urgent need, the Michigan State Police (MSP) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) have established the Safety Net Partnership, a program that equips state troopers with resources to assist residents experiencing immediate emergencies. "Policing is a service industry and through this partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, our troopers now have an immediate way to provide stop-gap assistance to individuals we come across who are in need," MSP Director Col. James F. Grady II expressed in a statement acquired by the official press release.
With this initiative, during their beat, troopers encountered individuals steep in need, now have the tools to offer a temporary reprieve in the form of $25 pre-paid cards and essential supplies, allowing for the purchase of necessities like food and gas, and the partnership serves a dual purpose not only meeting urgent needs but also aiming to mitigate the involvements with the law that may arise from the desolation of poverty. The funding which totals $72,000 annually, is pulled from the MDHHS' emergency services budget is used to provide pre-emptive support instead of punitive measures.
MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel highlighted the broad impact of the initiative, "Providing officers with the resources to help meet some of the more urgent needs of vulnerable Michigan residents can have many positive impacts," citing improvements in housing and food security, access to substance use treatments and a reduction in criminal justice encounters, as told to the official press release.
The pilot phase of this partnership painted a portrait of success, with 328 Michigan residents finding relief through the provision of 138 pre-paid cards and essentials, for instance, one beneficiary of the program who was pulled over for a vehicle violation that could've resulted in a ticket, not only received a gift card to fix their headlights but also a car seat for their young child which they could not afford. After initial successes, the program has now expanded statewide through a multi-agency partnership secured for three years.
