Department of Mental Health proposes folding public inebriate beds into crisis‑bed system, cites 988 and staffing considerations

Emily Haas, commissioner for the Department of Mental Health, told the committee that state agencies are proposing a phased effort to combine the public inebriate program (PIP) with the mental‑health crisis‑bed system to create a more efficient co‑occurring crisis response.

Haas said the PIP sites historically were not staffed for a 24/7 clinical response, while the crisis‑bed network is staffed continuously. With expansion of 988 and enhanced mobile crisis services — both intended to provide co‑occurring responses for substance use and mental‑health crises — the agencies see an opportunity to align and repurpose existing beds and staff. She said that the change is designed to increase the number of appropriate, non‑emergency settings for people in public intoxication or co‑occurring crisis situations.

Nut graf: The department plans to braid public‑inebriate grant dollars with existing crisis‑bed case‑rate funding rather than request new funds in the current fiscal year, pursue a phased rollout that addresses staff training and workplace readiness, and continue to evaluate geographic access because PIP utilization concentrates in some counties.

Key details from testimony

- Locations and capacity: Haas summarized current PIP locations cited in Department of Substance Use materials: Washington County (Claire Martin Center — does assessments and refers), a bed in St. Johnsbury through Northeast Kingdom Human Services, five beds with Recovery House in Wallingford, and a single bed through United Counseling Services. She noted utilization patterns vary by region with Chittenden County accounting for a substantial share of PIP traffic.

- Rationale for combining beds: Crisis beds are staffed 24/7 with trained personnel; PIP sites have historically struggled to provide a continuous clinical response. The department’s position is that co‑occurring crises are increasingly common and consolidating beds into a co‑occurring crisis‑bed system should make better use of resources and reduce inappropriate emergency‑department use.

- Implementation and funding: Haas said the plan would braide current PIP grant dollars with the crisis‑bed case rate and that no new budget ask is planned this year; the department will first attempt to use existing funds to support a phased transition. She also noted opportunities to draw on training and technical‑assistance funding available through federal grants (SAMHSA, CCBHC‑related supports) to expand workforce competencies for co‑occurring disorders.

- Service‑continuity concern: Committee members and witnesses raised concerns that combining populations could be inappropriate in certain local contexts; Haas acknowledged the need for a careful phased approach and local planning, noting the Chittenden County configuration arose from crisis‑era responses and that geographic differences require tailored solutions.

Quotes and attribution

- “The public inebriate program has struggled over the years, mostly because it's not necessarily staffed for a 24/7 response,” Haas said. - “Our hope is to really look at what our current resources are and put into play a more efficient use of the delivery of those services,” she said, describing the phased plan.

Ending

Haas asked for continued committee support for a staged, evidence‑driven transition that preserves safe placements for people in crisis, minimizes emergency‑department boarding, and leverages existing grant and case‑rate funding to avoid a large current‑year budget ask. The department also offered to supply utilization data and further operational detail to the committee and stakeholders as planning proceeds.