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Seneca County approves pilot wellness contract for sheriff’s staff to be paid from inmate phone revenue
Summary
Board authorized a one‑year pilot contract with BlueLine Wellness to provide psychological and peer support to sheriff’s staff, to be paid from inmate phone revenue; supervisors noted FCC rule changes could affect that funding stream.
The county board approved a one‑year pilot contract with BlueLine Wellness to provide on‑site psychological and peer‑support services to members of the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff told the public safety committee that BlueLine Wellness was the only proposer to the recent RFP and that the firm already works with other regional sheriffs’ offices. "BlueLine Wellness specializes in providing psychological and wellness services to those folks," the sheriff said, adding the firm would provide critical debriefings and oversee the peer support team.
The sheriff said the pilot would be paid from inmate phone proceeds rather than general taxpayer funds: "The main thing I wanna emphasize to the committee and the board is that this isn't being paid out of taxpayer funds. We're proposing that we use inmate phone proceeds." Committee members raised funding questions and noted that Federal Communications Commission rule changes affecting inmate phone charges could change that revenue stream. County staff said they are seeking alternatives if the revenue source becomes unsuitable.
The pilot was carried by voice vote. The committee directed the sheriff and staff to monitor potential FCC rule impacts and to return with funding alternatives if needed.
