A mental health issue can turn a routine interaction with law enforcement or emergency responders into a more dire situation very quickly. That’s why education, training and jail diversion programs are crucial.
County Rural Offices of Social Services (CROSS) works with area law enforcement and emergency service providers to help prevent those suffering from mental health symptoms from being incarcerated. However, if a person suffering from a mental health issue is jailed, CROSS can connect that person to a network of service providers who can address multifaceted mental health issues.
“The goal of the Jail Alternatives Program is to prevent people from being incarcerated when they could be better served by utilizing other community resources. We collaborate with local law enforcement, county attorneys, mental health and community resources to try to help people who are at risk of being incarcerated get connected to alternative services and treatment programs rather than spending time in jail,” said CROSS Jail Alternatives Coordinator Chad DesPlanque.
The Jail Alternatives Program begins with prevention. CROSS works with local law enforcement and emergency service providers to educate them on identifying the signs of a mental health crisis and provide guidance on how to de-escalate emergency situations.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports 44% of those in jail and 37% of those in prison have a mental illness. That compares to around 20% of the U.S. population living with a mental illness.
“If our clients are given the opportunity to receive treatment, they are more likely to both avoid jail time in the future and maintain recovery in our community,” DesPlanque said.
For those who are jailed, CROSS works to connect individuals to the appropriate level of community-based treatment. CROSS works to improve their overall quality of life and reduce their involvement in the criminal justice system. That means employing screenings and referrals to identify those with mental health and co-occurring disorders, connecting them with community-based agencies and services and providing short-term and intensive case monitoring.
CROSS Jail Alternatives Coordinator Shannon Stewart told the story of a client who was released from the Decatur County Jail. She said the client was not familiar with the Jail Alternatives Program but had utilized the mental health services while in jail.
“The day of her release, I was able to meet with her and develop a check-in plan for the next few weeks. At each time we talked I shared resources with her and assisted with her to continue to receive her medications on an outpatient level. She has been interviewing at jobs and hopes to start CNA training in the next month. She sent me a text that stated, ‘I appreciate your help more than you know right now. It’s been a huge encouragement to me. Thank you.’”
Stewart said she comes from a background as a substance use disorder counselor and nurse and has found a new sense of passion for a new population of people in need of help.
“I believe many times individuals that are in these situations sometimes just need a nonjudgmental person to listen to them. To myself, each person has a story and are not just an inmate number. Taking the time figure out how they got to where they are now and changing that trajectory to a more positive path is my goal.”
To learn more about the CROSS Jail Alternatives Program, visit our website.