Davis Behavioral Health reports service trends, funding uncertainty to county budget committee

Davis Behavioral Health directors told the Davis County Budget Committee on a recent agenda item that the number of unique clients served in the county has declined slightly while the total number of services delivered rose to about 240,000, and that funding from federal block grants and other sources is uncertain for the coming year.

The presentation, given by Brandon Hatch, director of Davis Behavioral Health, and Ronnie Westergaard, the agency’s chief financial officer, summarized service trends, substance-use patterns, and the agency’s FY budget request to the county. Hatch said the rise in service counts alongside a drop in unique clients suggests those who do seek care have more severe needs. “The goal of mobile crisis is to keep people out of the jail, keep them out of emergency rooms, keep them at home,” Hatch said, describing the mobile crisis outreach team’s purpose.

Committee members heard several budget details and cautions. Hatch and Westergaard said crisis calls have fallen by just over 1,000 in the reporting period, and that adults aged roughly 27–64 make up the largest share of crisis calls. On substance use, Hatch said methamphetamine remains the leading substance seen in county services, with heroin and fentanyl also…