In counties across the U.S., there are more people with serious mental illness (SMI) in jails than in psychiatric hospitals. The APA Foundation is committed to changing that figure and placing more people with mental health conditions in the healthcare system, where their needs can be met.
The Stepping Up Initiative is a national movement designed to provide counties with the tools they need to develop cross-system, evidence-based strategies that lead to measurable reductions in the number of people with mental illnesses in jails.