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State award will fund court mental-health navigators in Chautauqua County starting July
Summary
The county’s commissioner of mental hygiene said the New York State Office of Mental Health awarded state aid to implement court mental-health navigators; staff said the program starts in July and the total award is $206,000 for the program, with $51,006.30 per quarter referenced in discussion.
Chautauqua County Commissioner of Mental Hygiene and Social Services Carmela Hernandez told the Human Services Committee that the county received state aid from the New York State Office of Mental Health to implement court mental-health navigators.
Hernandez said the program is intended to place navigators within the court system to connect people with mental-health needs to treatment and to follow them through the continuum of care when they are released from custody or given appearance tickets. The Office of Mental Health told the county the program’s start date is July and provided funds in advance to support planning.
Hernandez said the award structure was discussed with the Office of Mental Health and that staffing will include a care coordinator; she described contracting and clinic revenue strategies to maximize the dollar amount and sustain services. During discussion a committee member read back figures: $51,006.30 per quarter and a total program cost of $206,000, figures Hernandez confirmed as the program budget discussed.
Hernandez and committee members said the county will coordinate with local courts and the state to train judges and court staff and to align the program with the county’s jail reentry and mental-health initiatives. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote.
