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Sheriff outlines CORE outreach pilot to divert high‑need people from jail, seeks Prop 47 grant funding
Summary
Sheriff Matt Kendall described a pilot Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) program working with behavioral health and social services to identify frequent users of emergency services and connect them to treatment; a Prop 47 grant application to fund the effort has been submitted.
Sheriff Matt Kendall presented a County pilot titled Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) on June 24, describing a multi‑disciplinary effort to pair sheriff deputies with behavioral‑health and social‑service staff to engage people who repeatedly use emergency services.
Pilot details and rationale: The sheriff’s office and partner agencies identified a small initial cohort of about 10 people who accounted for a high volume of calls for service. The team’s stated goal is to improve public safety outcomes, reduce emergency room and 911 demand, and connect individuals to housing, substance‑use treatment and behavioral‑health services where appropriate.
Early results and approach: Sheriff Kendall said roughly half of the initial cohort had engaged in some form of treatment or higher‑level care after outreach; others required custody or further intervention. The model emphasizes “strike while the iron is hot” — delivering services or treatment shortly after outreach contacts or a jail discharge to prevent rapid return to crisis.
Funding: The sheriff and partner agencies said a Proposition 47 grant application was submitted to fund staff time (estimated 24 deputy hours per month) and additional behavioral‑health and social‑service staffing to support outreach and housing navigation if awarded.
Board action: The board voted unanimously to accept the presentation and encouraged continued development of the pilot and reporting back to the board on outcomes and any grant awards.
Why it matters: Sheriff‑led outreach models that pair law enforcement with social‑service and behavioral‑health providers are increasingly used to reduce repeated emergency contacts and divert people into treatment rather than incarceration. Mendocino’s pilot will be tracked for outcomes, including reduced calls for service, housing placements and treatment engagement.
