Cochise County to consider final Legacy Foundation installment for sheriff—s mental-health support team

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors was briefed March 20 on a grant-funded mental-health support team run through the Cochise County Sheriff—s Office and was told the board will be asked to accept a final installment from the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona.

The presentation described a multi-year grant that supported hiring licensed behavioral-health staff, two field vehicles and training, and a program of licensed clinicians plus behavioral-health paraprofessionals who make proactive welfare checks and provide peer support to first responders. County staff said the overall Legacy Foundation support for the project has been just under $1.3 million, with an initial allotment of $497,000 and a final installment the presenter identified as approximately $383,000 (the transcript also referenced $380,000 in one place). The board was told the final payment must be approved by the board before it is accepted by county staff.

Why it matters: presenters said the "care team" diverts people with acute mental-health or substance-related crises from jail and emergency departments by offering field-based engagement and transport to inpatient care when needed. County staff described the team—s work as reducing repeat emergency responses in rural towns and providing post-incident support for first responders.

Details of the program: the team began after a 2022 proposal to the Legacy Foundation. County speakers said licensed clinicians were difficult to recruit, so the county also created a 10-week certification pathway with Cochise College to produce behavioral-health paraprofessionals; two graduates were retained. The team—s duties include proactive community checks, transport coordination to inpatient facilities when appropriate, and a regional peer-support program for first responders following critical incidents. The presenter described a Wilcox case in which weekly contact by the care team reduced the subject—s 911 calls to zero over nine months.

Statutory and program context: the presenter referenced the Craig Tiger Act as a state requirement that first responders and dispatchers receive higher-tier counseling after certain traumatic incidents; the act was mentioned to explain the level of clinical support the county is providing for responders.

What the board will do next: staff said the final Legacy Foundation installment will appear on an upcoming regular meeting agenda for the board—s approval. No final board action on the grant was recorded during the March 20 work session.

Quotes from the meeting: "This program, if I were to die tomorrow, professionally speaking, this would be the most impactful thing I've ever done," said Mr. Watkins, identified in the meeting as the commander speaking for the sheriff's office, describing the team's impact on citizens and first responders. "Guess how many times that guy has called 911 the last 9 months? 0," Mr. Watkins said when describing the team's work with a frequent 911 caller in Wilcox.

Ending: The board did not vote on the grant at the work session; staff asked supervisors to expect a formal agenda item at the next regular meeting to accept the final installment and associated grant amendment. No funding commitment from the county general fund was described in the meeting notes; staff said they are actively seeking additional outside funding to grow and sustain the team.