Miami-Dade County is one of four places in the nation chosen to kick off a new project to reduce the number of mentally ill people behind bars.

The Stepping Up Initiative, a partnership between the National Association of Counties, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Foundation, was rolled out Wednesday in Miami as well as the District of Columbia; Sacramento, California; and Johnson County, Kansas.

The program adds no money but holds the pilot programs out as examples to train others on how to run successful mental health diversionary programs and keep mentally ill people out of jail.