A program that aims to reduce recidivism in offenders with mental health issues was approved for expansion Monday.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the Lewis County Mental Health Alternative program to spend an additional $96,210 annually from the one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax designated for people with drug or alcohol dependency and mental health issues.
The money will allow the program to add two Cascade Mental Health Care workers, one transition coordinator and one case aid employee.
“This is the treatment portion of the Mental Health Alternative that we’ve worked so hard to establish,” Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said at the commissioner’s meeting.
Five inmates are currently involved in the program using existing resources. The additional funds will allow up to 20 people to be in the program.
The program was started in August of last year by the county sheriff’s office, prosecutor’s office, Cascade Mental Health, Lewis County Superior Court and 911 dispatchers.
In 2014, about 43 percent of Lewis County Jail inmates reportedly had unmet mental health needs.
Often, mentally ill offenders get stuck in a cycle of going to jail and court hearings to Western State Hospital and then back to jail and court before being released. While out, they often stop using their medication or offend again. The program identifies mentally ill offenders while they are jailed. The offender works with the courts, prosecutor’s office, attorneys and mental health providers to be released on conditions that include approved housing, mental health care, follow-up court dates and medication monitoring.
