CJCC forms behavioral health subcommittee, schedules DOJ‑funded SIM mapping in September

The Washington County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council voted to formalize a behavioral health subcommittee and appointed Julie Driscoll to chair it, after Driscoll outlined near‑term steps including meetings to develop a charter and a Department of Justice‑funded SIM mapping exercise on Sept. 3 (full day) and Sept. 4 (half day).

Driscoll described the initial membership she has invited — a jail administrator, the West Bend police chief, the county behavioral health division manager Doug Fry, a crisis supervisor John France, an outpatient mental health supervisor, a Pittsburgh Health representative and a representative from Elevate — and said the roster will evolve as the charter clarifies roles. “We’re anticipating about 30 to 40 people to be in attendance,” Driscoll said of the invite‑only SIM mapping sessions.

Why it matters: The SIM mapping event — paid for and facilitated by the Department of Justice — is meant to identify system gaps and opportunities in behavioral health service coordination that will drive the CJCC’s action items. Driscoll and the chair emphasized the importance of broad stakeholder representation for a productive outcome.

What happened: Members moved and passed a motion to formalize the work group as a CJCC subcommittee consistent with the CJCC bylaws; the chair noted the bylaws require at least two CJCC members on a subcommittee and said that requirement was met. The subcommittee will develop a charter and begin work over the summer ahead of the September exercise.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the SIM mapping logistics (venue under negotiation: Marine Park), confirm the invite list, and circulate the subcommittee charter. The subcommittee’s early action items will be reported back to the CJCC at future meetings.