Erica Techo
Representatives from M4A present Sheriff John Samaniego (right) with a certificate declaring the Shelby County Sheriff's Office as the first sheriff's office in the state to take training to become dementia-friendly.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was recognized tonight as the first dementia-friendly sheriff’s office in the state of Alabama. Representatives of M4A — Assisting All Ages at All Stages — attended the Sept. 25 Shelby County Commission meeting to thank the commissioners for supporting a grant application earlier this year, and to recognize the sheriff’s office for its participation.
Outreach Director Robyn James reminded the commission of a grant M4A applied for in February, at which time the commission wrote a letter of support. That letter helped them receive the six-month, $10,000 grant, James said.
“We were able to develop a brand-new dementia-friendly toolkit that is to be used by law enforcement and first responders to train them on dementia,” James said.
The toolkit has three steps – to become dementia knowledgeable, dementia responsive and dementia sensitive. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office assisted by being the first law enforcement officers to go through the training, and by helping field test the training.
“We were able to train 140 law enforcement officers, and they also extended some of the training to Hoover and Pelham police departments,” James said.
The sheriff’s office will be identified as a dementia-friendly office through signage and other resources, which James said helps individuals with dementia feel welcome.
“What this kind of means, to be dementia-friendly, is that people within your community with dementia and their caregivers, they can feel that they’re in a safe environment, that they’re wanted and that they’re a part of that community,” James said.
Sheriff John Samaniego was presented with a framed certificate declaring SCSO as the first dementia-friendly sheriff’s office in the state.
Also at the meeting, the commission:
- Approved a resolution accepting the transfer of Shelby County Economic Industrial Development Authority (SCEIDA) assets to a new economic development entity and permitting County Manager Alex Dudchock to take necessary actions for administration of the resolution.
- Approved ALDOT agreements for intersection improvements at County roads 52 and 13, and a bridge replacement on County Road 441 in Wilsonville.
- Approved a resolution regarding a standard agreement with the Birmingham Regional Paratransit Consortium and ClasTran.
- Briefly discussed an agenda item regarding the Chelsea GUSC. According to the agenda, documents were set to be distributed by the county attorney, but Dudchock told the commission it was not ready at the time of the meeting, so the matter would not come before the commission tonight.
- Approved a resolution regarding the installation of a new bronze historical marker in the right-of-way on County Road 17. The sign was previously requested by Phoebe Robinson of the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, and County Engineer Randy Cole recommended approval.
- Cole told the commission about an upcoming public involvement meeting. On Tuesday, Oct. 17, there will be a meeting to discuss work on Cahaba Beach Road. The meeting will be from 5-7 p.m. at Liberty Park Middle School.
