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County officials say mental-health court co-responder, recovery navigator reduced local jailings
Summary
Representatives from the justice system and behavioral health told Fulton County commissioners that a new mental-health court co-responder and a recovery supports navigator, funded by county mental-health resources and grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, have increased community treatment deferrals and led to fewer incarcerations and cost savings.
Representatives from the justice system and behavioral health reported to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 20 that a recently implemented mental-health court co-responder and a recovery supports navigator have increased deferrals to community-based treatment, reduced local incarcerations and produced measurable cost savings, the group said.
The presentation — described to commissioners as supported by blended funding from county mental-health resources and grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency — credited the co-responder program and the recovery supports navigator with strengthening linkages between the courts and community treatment resources. According to the representatives, the changes have coincided with "a notable reduction in the number of individuals incarcerated at the Bedford County Correctional Facility," and with associated cost savings for the county.
Commissioners and the presenters identified next steps as mapping available resources to support training for staff and partners and exploring supported housing options to help people transition from court diversion or short-term placements into stable community settings. No formal vote or action item on new funding or contracts was recorded during the presentation; the discussion was reported as part of routine updates to commissioners.
The group indicated the initiatives draw on a combination of county mental-health funds and grant awards; officials cited the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency as a source of grant support. Commissioners noted the update and directed staff to file meeting minutes and follow-up materials with the clerk's office. A separate Safety Committee meeting and Department Head meeting were also held the same day, with minutes on file.
The presentation did not provide named statistics or a written cost-savings analysis in the public record at the meeting. Commissioners indicated they will pursue resource-mapping and additional details in future staff work.
