01/24/2024

Today, Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen testified before the Indiana Senate Health and Provider Services Committee in support of Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), the Indiana Community Cares initiative grant pilot program. The bill was unanimously approved and recommitted to the Appropriations Committee.

SB 10 is a statewide pilot program empowering communities to invest in proactive and sustainable mental health resources to rehabilitate at-risk Hoosiers while reducing public safety expenses across Indiana.

“The City of Noblesville prioritizes public safety and the health of our community through the NobleACT Program. This program has proven it can save lives, and it’s now time to take this program statewide,” said Mayor Jensen. “I am encouraged that Senators Scott Baldwin, Michael Crider, and Ed Charbonneau have taken the lead on Senate Bill 10. This bill is a substantial step forward in investing in our people and the future of integrated public health and safety.”

"I have witnessed firsthand the challenges that can arise when mental health is not prioritized in a community. Noblesville has proven the success of its NobleACT program, which exemplifies the need for the Community Cares Initiative Grant Pilot Program to exist statewide," said State Sen. Baldwin (R-District 20). "I'm committed to getting this legislation across the finish line so Hoosiers will ultimately receive the mental health and support services they deserve while providing resources to our first responders who answer the calls for help."

In 2020, the City of Noblesville launched the NobleACT program, a proactive and sustainable mental health collaboration aimed at strengthening community-based responses through a partnership with the police and fire departments and area service providers. Since its inception, the NobleACT program has responded to over 6,000 calls for help to appropriately address issues like housing, mental health episodes, challenges associated with aging and premature birth, and addiction issues with the help of a crisis intervention specialist on staff and K-9 therapy dogs Luna, Carbon, and Sadie. NobleACT has reduced the number of repeat calls to emergency services from some residents needing support while connecting them with a full spectrum of resources that would meet their needs. 

Mayor Jensen has worked to take the NobleACT Program statewide and encouraged state leaders to use Noblesville as a blueprint for similar programs. State Senators Baldwin, Crider (R-District 28), and Charbonneau (R-District 5) have authored Senate Bill 10. This bill establishes the community cares initiative grant pilot program for the purpose of assisting in the costs of starting or expanding mobile integrated health care programs and mobile crisis teams in Indiana.

The bill is co-authored by State Senators Eric Bassler (R-District 39), James Buck (R-District 21), Justin Busch (R-District 16), Cyndi Carrasco (R-District 36), John Crane (R-District 24), Chris Garten (R-District 45), Mike Gaskill (R-District 25), Tyler Johnson (R-District 14), and Kyle Walker (R-District 31).