Chicago Police Department Announces Senior Advisor Of Wellness

Chicago IL

12 March, 2021

7:12 PM

Description

Press release from the Chicago Police Department: March 12, 2021 The Chicago Police Department (CPD) today announced Alexa James, Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago, as Senior Advisor of Wellness for the Department. James will continue to serve as CEO of NAMI Chicago and bring the talent of her team to support the people of CPD. She brings years of experience and deep institutional knowledge of mental wellness to the Department in an effort to begin fostering a community of wellness for CPD internally and externally. While her role as a consultant is new, James is no stranger to CPD. As CEO of NAMI Chicago, she has worked closely with the Department to advance Officer Wellness and Crisis Intervention Team training efforts. In this role, she will continue working alongside Professional Counseling Division and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Director Dr. Robert Sobo, focusing on supporting and implementing a strategy around building a culture of wellness within the Department and also the diverse communities CPD works to serve and protect. "We are thrilled to be welcoming Alexa James to the Chicago Police Department where she will be working with our officers to foster wellness both within the department and the broader community," said CPD Superintendent David O. Brown. "This past year has proved the vital importance mental wellness has in the lives of officers and community members, and we have full confidence that Alexa is the right person to bolster a better understanding of mental health and the resources available to our officers." James will focus on bolstering a better understanding of mental health and the resources available to members. She will work with key leaders in the Department, including Superintendent Brown, to build strategy and implement changes that foster increased awareness and understanding of mental health. She will also help officers to learn and better utilize the resources available to them while assessing and addressing any current gaps. This internal work will then inform community interactions, fostering a broader culture of care throughout all of Chicago to better respond to mental health related calls and crises. "I am pleased to be entering this role at the Chicago Police Department to build a culture of wellness and care for our police officers, which can then be used to inform interactions with residents and communities they serve," James said. "This is a critical time to ensure that we are providing all the necessary resources and supports that people need for mental wellness, especially for those on the frontlines of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic." This strengthened effort to enhance officer wellness within the Department is made possible with the support of the Chicago Police Foundation (CPF). The foundation is providing funding that will assist the Department in the implementation of additional resources and policies to best serve CPD officers. "The Chicago Police Foundation is proud to serve those who serve us," said CPF Chairman Richard Simon. "In reflecting on events that have adversely affected the men and women of CPD, we understand how important it is to invest in the Department's most valuable asset, our officers." James has spent the past nine years establishing NAMI Chicago as a leading voice in the conversation around mental wellness, the challenges of the mental health system, and mental health education in Chicago and beyond. Under her leadership, the organization has built partnerships that extend throughout Chicago and Illinois to strengthen the community's response to mental health. James previously represented NAMI Chicago and served on the COVID-19 Recovery Task Force under Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and on Mayor-elect Lightfoot's Health & Human Services Transition Committee. She will continue to carry out her role at NAMI Chicago to create and sustain programs that enhance healing in the community, whether its business, schools, or elsewhere. Law enforcement and first responders have been an area of focus and partnership for years, and her role at CPD is within NAMI Chicago's mission to support and normalize mental health and increase wellness. Prior to her start at NAMI Chicago, James worked with children and adults living with mental health conditions and those impacted by poverty and trauma. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Social Work from Loyola University, as well as a master's degree in Child Development from Erikson Institute. About NAMI ChicagoSince 1979, NAMI Chicago has fought for families and individuals impacted by mental health conditions through promoting community wellness, breaking down barriers to mental health care and providing support and expertise for families, professionals and individuals in Chicago and beyond. Guided by the experiences of those living with mental health conditions and rooted in equity, NAMI Chicago educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for our community, and shares hope, connection and expertise with people on their mental health journey. To learn more, visit https://www.namichicago.org/. This press release was produced by the Chicago Police Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.