HHS committee forwards mental-health funding resolution to County Board; asks staff to draft regional inpatient-facility resolution

The Sawyer County Health and Human Services committee voted to send a Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) resolution to the full County Board asking the state to increase funding for community mental-health programs and crisis services so counties are not required to cover a large portion of non-federal costs.

Committee members reviewed a WCA white paper describing shortfalls in state reimbursement for Community Support Programs (CSP) and crisis services; staff said counties currently must contribute levy dollars to cover gaps and that the white paper proposes state funding increases to reduce that burden. A motion to send the resolution to the County Board passed by voice vote; the referral will appear on next week’s County Board agenda.

Members also discussed a separate resolution circulated among several northwest Wisconsin counties advocating establishment of an inpatient behavioral-health facility in northern Wisconsin to reduce lengthy transports and high transport costs. A committee member moved to bring a draft of that resolution back next month for review and possible action; the motion was seconded and carried.

Committee discussion included data staff presented on crisis contacts and hospitalizations: 31 crisis contacts in the first quarter and 30 in the second quarter; dispositions included seven adult hospitalizations in each quarter and three (Q1) and four (Q2) child hospitalizations. Staff emphasized diversion efforts and mobile crisis services as tools to reduce hospitalizations and placement costs.

The committee recorded motions and voice votes but did not provide roll-call tallies in the transcript. The County Board will consider the WCA resolution at its next meeting, and staff will return with a draft inpatient-facility resolution next month.