Goodnough honored for mental health work in Monroe County

Staff reports
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DEARBORN — Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough was honored as 2024 Mental Health Hero/Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the National Alliance for Mental Illness Michigan.

Goodnough was recognized earlier this month at a reception at The Henry Hotel. Six people from Monroe County attended the event.

Goodnough was nominated by Monroe Community Mental Health Authority. According to NAMI Michigan's website, the awards “seek to turn our attention to what works in Michigan’s mental health system and to shine a spotlight on exemplary individuals and organizations, who all too often do vital work that improves the lives of many people without receiving due recognition."

Shown at the ceremony are Monroe County residents (from left): Crystal Palmer, Sheriff Troy Goodnough and Lisa Graham.
Shown at the ceremony are Monroe County residents (from left): Crystal Palmer, Sheriff Troy Goodnough and Lisa Graham.

Lisa Graham, MCMHA executive director, said in a news release, "Sheriff Goodnough’s leadership in identifying needs and bridging the gap between law enforcement and mental health services has resulted in a partnership between our two agencies that is unrivaled across the state. It has produced outcomes for the residents of Monroe County that go beyond what any data can describe. Sheriff Goodnough’s staunch advocacy and persistence in mental health care have resulted in changed lives and a changed community.”

In the nomination, Graham spoke about some of Monroe County's programs, such as jail diversion, medication-assisted treatment and re-entry programs. Monroe County also has Mental Health and Recovery Court, Youth Diversion services and Intensive Outpatient programs.

“When MCMHA nominated Sheriff Goodnough, we highlighted his commitment to securing resources to allow those who are living with mental illnesses and substance use disorders to receive treatment while incarcerated,” Graham said. “Under the leadership of Sheriff Goodnough and through our partnership, we have programs that are the envy of the state.”

Goodnough also encourages officers to refer people in need of mental health support, Graham said. Some of his program are now used nationally.

“Sheriff Goodnough recognized the need to be proactive in the Sequential Intercept Model. Observing that officers frequently responded to calls where a need for mental health interventions was apparent, he developed a referral form that all officers now use to connect individuals to mental health services before the problem escalates to a criminal justice issue, providing the appropriate level of care with the least impact to the community’s resources. This form and many of the programs Goodnough has championed have been modeled statewide and nationally, as he is repeatedly invited to speak on the innovative strategies implemented in Monroe County,” Graham said.

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The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) is a grassroots mental health organization that aims to improve the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families, according to its website. Founded in 1979, the organization has affiliates in every state and more than 1,100 local communities across the country.

To learn more about Monroe Community Mental Health Authority and its services, visit monroecmha.org. To learn more about the NAMI Michigan, visit namimi.org.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Goodnough honored for mental health work in Monroe County