The JCMH collaborates with the National Center for State Courts to administer a pilot focused on enhancing coordination between courts and behavioral health providers. The Community Diversion Coordinator (CDC) pilot aims to divert defendants with mental illness, substance use disorders, or intellectual and developmental disabilities who have been charged with nonviolent misdemeanor offenses from the criminal justice system.  

The goal of the pilot is to minimize waitlist times by creating a court staff position focused on developing innovative pathways and quicker options to prevent decompensation of individuals awaiting restoration or other intervention to increase the judiciary’s connection to diversionary and treatment resources. 

The first three counties in the program include: Denton, Grayson, and Smith Counties.