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JAWS program streamlined amid provider funding cuts; commissioners pledge to review county support
Summary
The Board approved sheriff’s office grant and interlocal items and amendments to jail behavioral health contracts, while commissioners raised concern after the county learned two part-time JAWS caseworker positions will be cut by the provider (OCHN).
The committee approved multiple sheriff’s office items including grant acceptances, interlocal agreements and amendments to existing jail behavioral-health contracts. The most substantive discussion focused on changes to the JAWS (Jail Alliance With Support) program after Oakland County Health Network (OCHN) informed the county it would delete two part-time inmate caseworker positions from its jail contracts for fiscal year 2026.
Staff presented a series of items: (1) grant acceptance for the state secondary road patrol and traffic accident prevention program (about $1.2 million for FY26); (2) an updated interlocal agreement with the City of Southfield to participate in the narcotics enforcement team; (3) an amendment with Lyon Township that reclassifies staff and restores two school resource officers; and (4) multiple amendments with OCHN covering the JAWS program, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) physician reimbursement and MAT expansion.
Sheriff’s staff and the jail program captain said the JAWS program provides jail-based mental health screening, medication initiation and structured group and individual therapy. The presenter described the program’s outcomes: in 2024 those who graduated from the program had a 0.09% recidivism rate in a county-provided snapshot; staff also reported the program saved about 3,340 jail bed days in 2024 and completed over 600 initial screenings in FY24. The JAWS model includes group curricula (20 90-minute sessions), medication compliance oversight and reentry planning.
OCHN’s contract changes will keep one full-time inmate caseworker but eliminate two part-time positions, a change staff said was prompted by OCHN’s internal fiscal constraints. County staff and several commissioners expressed concern that reducing caseworker capacity could reduce program effectiveness; Commissioners Gershenson and others urged the Board to explore county funding options to restore the positions during current budget discussions. One commissioner asked for the dollar amounts; staff provided FY26 and FY27 figures for the two part-time positions (presenter cited individual-year amounts but the transcript included inconsistent numeric phrasing; commissioners asked staff to provide precise figures and said the Board should consider finding funding).
Amendments related to MAT were approved; staff said MAT funding covers medication, behavioral therapy and a portion of an inmate caseworker position (the remainder paid from opioid settlement funds). The committee approved the package of sheriff’s items; recorded votes indicated support across commissioners present.
Commissioners asked staff to continue conversations with provider partners and to consider county budget adjustments to sustain jail behavioral health services. Commissioner Gershenson said she would recommend that the Finance Committee examine potential county funding to restore positions.
