Friday, April 12, 2019 marked an exciting, auspicious, and perhaps pivotal day in the history of Monroe County, Indiana. That’s a lot of adjectives—and pressure—to pile onto just another glorious spring day in Bloomington. But I think many folks who virtually congregate on a site that supports communities implementing trauma-informed and resilience-building practices grounded in ACEs science would agree that a county’s first-ever ACEs conference deserves a little ballyhoo. But this ACEs...

BLOOMINGTON - Individuals in Monroe County who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis have a new source for help besides an emergency room or the local jail. The Bloomington-based Stride Coalition has opened The Stride Center which offers a place for police to take individuals in need instead of going into the criminal justice system. The 24-hour crisis diversion center in downtown Bloomington was opened to better help those with substance abuse disorders. The coalition...

Bloomington city leaders plan to move five police officer positions to social service positions within the department. In a zoom call Thursday , they talked about actions the city will take for racial justice. Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton says these efforts will also include a request that the Board of Public Safety form an advisory committee to study what public safety efforts should look like long-term. Police Chief Mike Diekhoff says keeping the reallocated positions in the department...

The city of Indianapolis’ new Assessment and Intervention Center, which will provide a safe place to stay — and an alternative to arrest — for our neighbors with mental health and addiction treatment needs, recently opened to the public. It couldn’t have come at a better time. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated our community's existing mental health and addiction challenges, which are often felt most acutely by vulnerable individuals such as those who are within the criminal justice...