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Whatcom County unveils 'Pathways' jail program after 2024 pilot; county seeks partners and Medicaid revenue
Summary
Rachel McGarrity presented a jail‑based therapeutic community called Pathways on June 16, citing a pilot and a 54.9% three‑year reoffense rate in one sample week; estimated annual cost is about $230,000 with potential first‑year Medicaid billing to offset costs.
Rachel McGarrity, the new Correctional Health Services Manager for Whatcom County, presented the Pathways program to the Behavioral Health Committee on June 16, describing a jail‑based therapeutic community built on a 2024 pilot.
"Today's inmates are tomorrow's neighbors," McGarrity said, framing the program’s public‑health approach. She reported that a sample of arrests taken the week of June 2–9, 2023 showed about 54.9% of people arrested during that week had another contact with law enforcement within three years—data she said informed the program’s urgency.
Pathways would house small gender‑separated cohorts (three to five men; three to five women) in dedicated dorm units at the Whatcom County Work Center and deliver a continuous, modular curriculum that integrates trauma processing, cognitive behavioral work, peer group support, re‑entry planning and substance‑use treatment. The program uses a "ring" model so participants can enter or re‑enter the curriculum at any module; experienced participants mentor newcomers.
McGarrity estimated the annual program cost at roughly $230,000 (program lead, two reentry staff, deputy time, community facilitators, materials). She said the county can cover the program’s first year from newly allowable Medicaid billing for in‑custody health services, effective July 1, and that the program’s break‑even point is roughly keeping 10 people out of jail for a year given average direct incarceration costs.
Committee members asked practical questions about primary care coverage inside the jail, whether therapeutic clinicians would be county hires or contracted partners, and how the program would manage withdrawal and unpredictable lengths of stay. McGarrity said primary and urgent care is currently provided in the jail and that Medicaid reimbursement could offset many services; she signaled the likely use of a patchwork of county staff and contracted community providers for therapy and facilitation.
Members raised equity and selection concerns: careful, transparent eligibility criteria were urged to avoid amplifying racial disparities if staff‑led selection determines participation. Staff trauma from start/stop programming was also discussed; deputies who participated in the pilot reported meaningful engagement and disappointment when the program paused.
McGarrity invited community partners to serve as facilitators, commit to warm hand‑offs for reentry, and provide specialty programming (recovery, employment, arts). She said she hopes to launch a fall cohort and will share draft curriculum materials with committee members for review.
The committee did not take an action vote; next steps include circulation of curriculum drafts, targeted engagement with community providers and review of selection criteria and budget details.
