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Human Service Agency seeks 3% increase in annual county funding to support crisis services
Summary
The Human Service Agency asked Codington County for a 3% increase to its annual donation to support crisis stabilization, transport coordination and crisis-intervention training; the agency reports it had 257 admissions to its regional facility in 2024.
The Codington County Human Service Agency asked the county commissioners on May 13 to increase its annual donation by 3 percent to support crisis and emergency services, crisis-intervention training for law enforcement and continuation of the agency's regional crisis stabilization facility.
Carrie Johnston, executive director of the Human Service Agency, told commissioners the county's annual donation is used largely for crisis and emergency services. She said the agency opened an "appropriate regional facility" on July 1, 2023, and reported 257 admissions in 2024.
"In the past 6 months, we've had a couple nights where all 4 of our beds were occupied for crisis stabilization," Johnston said, adding those stays can last up to five days and have reduced out-of-county commitments and sheriff transport time.
Johnston said the state received a grant to provide transportation for some transfers out of the regional facility so sheriff transports will be reduced for those specific cases. She asked the commission to approve a 3% increase that would bring the county contribution to about $102,735 from the current $99,743.
Commissioners asked about which costs the donation supports and whether crisis-intervention training (CIT) is funded through the donation. Johnston said the donation is dedicated mostly to crisis services, and that CIT-related time and training coordination are supported by the agency and goodwill contributions from community participants.
Commissioners took the request under advisement; no formal vote was recorded on the increase during the May 13 discussion.
