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Court Urgent Care Clinic staff warn proposed FY26 cut would remove same‑day behavioral‑health access at Superior Court
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Summary
Staff from the Court Urgent Care Clinic and Pathways to Housing DC told the committee that the clinicinside D.C. Superior Court provides same‑day assessments and linkage for people with acute behavioral health needs and that the proposed FY26 budget would eliminate the program; witnesses said elimination would increase 911 use, hospital and jail
The Court Urgent Care Clinic, a partnership sited inside D.C. Superior Court that provides same‑day psychiatric and substance‑use assessments and short‑term follow‑up, would be eliminated in the mayorproposed FY26 budget unless the Council restores funding, clinic staff and partners told the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on June 10.
Clinical director Shannon Walsh and Pathways to Housing DC staff described the clinicwhich lists a psychiatrist, two clinicians, a certified addictions counselor and an intake coordinator on staffas uniquely positioned to see people on the day they appear in court with acute behavioral‑health needs. Walsh said the program connects people to long‑term services, provides emergency medication and arranges transportation into inpatient substance‑use treatment when needed. Pathways Vice President Will Doyle told the committee the clinic met or exceeded contractual targets in FY24 and was on pace to exceed contract volumes in FY25: the clinic was on track for roughly 845 unique referrals, 1,029 assessments and 6,108 follow‑up visits in the FY25 contract year.
Witnesses warned the committee that cutting the clinic would likely increase 911 calls, fire and emergency medical services responses, and arrests and corrections contacts. They said judges and court staff rely on the clinic to triage people with acute needs during court appearances; Walsh said judges and probation officers expressed concern that they would have no immediate option if the clinic closed. Pathways and the court clinic said they regularly connect people without ID or insurance to care and that many clients are referred into housing assessments, with 47 percent of clients in a recent period referred for housing due to homelessness or instability.
Committee Chair Brooke Pinto and other members questioned DMPSJ and Department of Behavioral Health budget officials during the hearing about the proposed cut. Deputy Mayor Lindsay Appiah and Pathways representatives said they would provide follow‑up information and urged the Council to restore funding; Pathways staff said demand is increasing and that the clinic prevents escalation at the courthouse and reduces downstream costs.
Ending: At the hearing, clinic staff asked the Committee to restore funding for the Court Urgent Care Clinic in FY26. Committee members said they would consider witness testimony as they finalize budget actions.
