Mental Health Stailization for Community Reentry

Douglas County, Oregon, is applying for funds in BJA FY 2022 Improving Adult and Juvenile Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Program funding (O-BJA-2022-171361) to double the availability of mental health services in the Jail; add a Jail Release Navigator; and increase mental health services within Juvenile Detention.

Currently, many inmates with mental health needs do not receive treatment while in Jail due to the limited availability of mental health services. Upon Jail release, most are not connected to community services unless they are part of a specific program, such as the in-jail drug treatment program.

Douglas County proposes to address these gaps by expanding the part-time Jail Mental Health Worker position to a full-time position with benefits; creating a new full-time Jail Release Navigator position; and increasing mental health services in Juvenile Detention from 10 hours a week to 25 hours a week. This program targets incarcerated adults and youths who have mental health or co-occurring needs. Umpqua Health Management, which oversees Medicaid services locally, will partner with Douglas County to analyze program data and create dashboards using Tableau software that can be shared with BJA and community partners.

The Jail Mental Health Worker will prioritize the continuity of medication for inmates during incarceration and will set up post-release appointments with Adapt, the Community Mental Health Program (CMHP). The Jail Release Navigator will meet with target population members to learn about their needs and connect them to services. When possible, the Navigator will arrange a warm handoff and transportation at the time of Jail release.

Douglas County is highly collaborative; local partners have made great strides at the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral health, including by launching a Mobile Crisis Program, opening a Sobering Center, expanding Detox, and securing $1.4 million in state grant funding to launch a program targeting high utilizers of the Jail and Emergency Department. This proposed program would close a stubborn gap in the County’s continuum of services by ensuring that incarcerated individuals with mental illness have access to treatment and are provided with supports that set them up for success upon release.

Proposed Subawardees are: Adapt Integrated Health Care (the CMHP); Wellpath, the Jail’s contracted medical provider; and Umpqua Health Management.

Douglas County is seeking consideration for Priority areas 1(A) and 2. The justification for this request for consideration is detailed in Pages 13-15 of this application.