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Fulton County officials describe expanded court diversion efforts for people with behavioral-health needs
Summary
Representatives from the justice system and behavioral-health partners told Fulton County commissioners the recent launch of a mental health court co-responder and a recovery supports navigator has led to more deferrals to community treatment and fewer incarcerations at Bedford County Correctional Facility; commissioners asked staff to map resources and explore supported housing options.
Representatives from the justice system and behavioral-health agencies briefed the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 20 on steps intended to divert people with behavioral-health needs from jail and into community treatment.
The representatives said the county has implemented a mental health court co-responder and a recovery supports navigator, and that those changes "have increased deferrals to community-based treatment resources," leading to what the briefing described as a notable reduction in people incarcerated at the Bedford County Correctional Facility and measurable cost savings to the county. The briefing said funding for some efforts comes from blended County Mental Health resources and grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
Why it matters: Commissioners were told the shifts are intended to reduce jail stays, lower costs and connect individuals to treatment rather than incarceration. Commissioners directed staff to map available resources that would support training for these initiatives and to explore options for supported housing to help stabilize participants after diversion to community services.
Details from the briefing included the new co-responder model—pairing behavioral-health staff with justice-system responders at key points—and placement of a recovery supports navigator to link people to services. The presenters said the changes increased referrals and deferrals to community-based care but did not provide line-by-line outcome data or the exact number of people diverted during the meeting.
Next steps outlined to the commissioners were a resource-mapping exercise to identify training needs and supports and further exploration of supported housing options; no formal policy changes or funding commitments were enacted at the meeting.
The commissioners did not take a formal vote on a program change during the session; the briefing was presented for information and planning purposes. The county meeting record states separate minutes or follow-up records will be kept for committee meetings mentioned during the briefing.
