Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Diversion Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Navajo County officials hear results of misdemeanor diversion program; presenters ask for continued funding
Summary
Complete Care Partners and Navajo County attorneys presented outcomes from a rural misdemeanor diversion program — 165 local enrollments and a reported 68% program completion rate — and urged the board to support efforts to renew legislative funding or find local subsidies.
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors heard a detailed presentation on the county's rural misdemeanor diversion program during a regular meeting. Erin Ashkabach, managed care coordinator for Complete Care Partners, and County Attorney Brad Cavillai described the program's structure, results and funding needs.
The program, funded for three years by the Arizona State Legislature, diverts low-level offenders with substance use or mental health needs away from formal court processing and into evidence-based treatment and accountability services. "The program effectively redirects limited criminal justice resources, brings about rehabilitation, and gives rise to safer communities," Erin Ashkabach said during the presentation.
Why it matters: presenters said the diversion program reduces short-term jail costs, lowers repeat misdemeanor arrests and keeps participants from gaining criminal records that can hinder employment and family stability. Ashkabach said Complete Care Partners has enrolled 165 clients in Navajo County over roughly two and a half years and reported a 68 percent success rate for people who completed the program. She added that 93 people who completed the program collectively parent 128 children who, she said, benefit when their parents avoid convictions.
Program design and supports: the presenters said the program couples behavioral-health screening with referrals to local providers (identified in the presentation as CBI and ChangePoint), offers remote services and provides technology to overcome transportation barriers. Participants have a minimum weekly contact with a care manager; the program uses a sliding fee scale based on national poverty guidelines and can waive fees for people unable to work or in long-term treatment. Ashkabach said the program also uses targeted electronic check-ins and GPS verification for attendance but does not perform continuous location surveillance.
Examples: the presentation included client stories to illustrate outcomes: a young client identified as "Delaine" completed intensive outpatient treatment and maintained sobriety while reestablishing family connections; other clients reported repairs to family relationships and increased employment prospects after program participation.
Funding and next steps: County Attorney Brad Cavillai said the state'level pilot funding is nearing its end and urged the board to back requests to the legislature for renewed funding. "If you've ever dealt with people with mental health and or substance use problems, that is a very high success rate," Cavillai said of the 68 percent completion figure, and he asked supervisors to support legislative renewal or consider local contributions to preserve the program's countywide reach.
No formal board vote on funding was taken at the meeting. Cavillai said county staff may propose a budget request next fiscal year if state funding is not restored and that towns and cities in the county might be asked to consider subsidizing the program if legislative support is not forthcoming.
The county staff member identified in the presentation as Jeanne Boyce was cited as the county'level program lead and as coordinating reporting across diversion programs to compare outcomes.
