2018-10-02 Budget meeting to discuss Mental Health TaxMeeting to discuss Mental Health Tax
October 2, 2018
3 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Stamper, Shad Hail, Stephanie
Miller, J.P. Anderson, Janelle Kambich, Undersheriff Wes Rethwill, Katie Strozyk, Judge Joely O’Rourke,
Susie Parker, Sophia Limacher
Guest: Bill Marshall, Judy Pectol (3:16 p.m.)
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Becky Butler gave an overview of the mental health tax programs. She said the Family Recovery Court
has requested an additional $4,000 to begin using the Drug Court Case Management database to help
track the program. Stephanie Miller said the program is at full capacity with 10 participants.
Becky said the budget is $1.7 million but that the taxes being brought in total $1.3 million to $1.4
million.
The group reviewed the budget breakdown of the Mental Health Tax:
• Prosecutor Drug Court: 3 percent
• Jail Drug Court: 6 percent
• Therapeutic Court (Family Court): 10 percent
• Superior Court Adult Drug Court: 19 percent
• Other: 62 percent
o Nurse Family Partnership: 15 percent
o Mental Health Contracts: 17 percent
o Jail Mental Health Alternative – prisoner care: 21 percent
o Jail Mental Health Alternative – non-incarcerated: 3 percent
o Prosecutor Mental Health Alternative: 3 percent
o Juvenile Mental Health Services: 3 percent
Shad Hail and Wes Rethwill discussed mental health and medical services offered through Juvenile and
the jail. Wes discussed care available through and provided by Naphcare.
Wes discussed Medicare coverage, which is suspended when an individual is incarcerated.
Judge O’Rourke left at 3:15 p.m.
Judy Pectol joined at 3:16 p.m.
Sophia Limacher discussed the increase in Mental Health Alternative cases and her role as a Mental
Health Coordinator. She said she’s had about a dozen people graduate, though two of them reoffended.
Wes stressed the cost-savings the Mental Health Alternative program provides in the long term.
Stephanie said Drug Court has added 40 participants this year, compared to adding 23 at the same time
the previous year. She said Family Recovery Board has its maximum capacity – 10 participants – and
recently celebrated with its first graduation ceremony.
Janelle Kambich said the PA’s Office assists the two programs, with one prosecutor and one part-time
employee devoted to the two programs.
Shad Hail discussed Juvenile’s small Recovery Board program.
Wes said roughly 70 percent to 80 percent of those incarcerated in jail struggle with mental health
issues. He said the jail typically houses upwards of 210 inmates.
J.P. Anderson discussed the Nurse Family Partnership, which features nurses who work with high-risk
pregnant women.
Katie Strozyk discussed work being done to coordinate mental health services in area schools.
Susie Parker discussed Cascade Mental Health’s Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) work.
Meeting adjourned at 3:51 p.m.