Cuyahoga Diversion and Mental Health and Addiction Services Initiative

The Cuyahoga County Diversion and Mental Health and Addiction Services Initiative is the first-of-its-kind in Ohio to address and manage those potential inmates with mental health and/or substance use disorders.  This initiative also simultaneously reduces and addresses the continuing jail population increases at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center (CCCC), the second largest full-service jail in Ohio. The purpose of this multi-agency initiative is to ensure that those individuals who are arrested and/or convicted with a mental health illness and/or substance use disorder are treated fairly with empathy, dignity and respect.  As appropriate these arrestees, that would typically be incarcerated within the general jail population, are provided the opportunity to divert from the CCCC jail to the first-of-its-kind Cuyahoga County Diversion Center (CCDC).  The CCDC takes an innovative approach to improve arrestee lives by addressing and treating what is often the underlying impetus for many criminal behavior(s).  This approach ensures those who need treatment for a mental health illness and/or substance use disorder receive it which lowers the CCCC jail inmate population safely by working with law enforcement and the justice system to redirect individuals better off in the care and environment of community health professionals.

The CCDC houses individuals on-site for detoxification and/or stabilization that features several components to treat their illness and prepare for additional care, as applicable.  These deliverables under this new Cuyahoga Diversion and Mental Health and Addiction Services Initiative are outsourced to selected service providers while allowing for additional funded service deliverables to better serve CCDC clients.  This initiative ultimately will provide improved care and equity for these individuals while making the community safer for all Cuyahoga County citizens.