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Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health reports large local caseload and urges continued county funding
Summary
A representative from Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health told the commission the region's new crisis stabilization facility has reduced behavioral‑health emergency‑department visits by about 75% for Yankton County residents, served hundreds via outpatient and school programs, and requested a 3% county budget increase (about $108,183) for the coming year.
Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services representatives briefed the commission on July 7 about services provided to Yankton County residents and requested continued county financial support.
The presenter (identified in the record as Dr. Sam) said the agency serves seven counties in southeastern South Dakota and reported that last fiscal year Yankton County residents received 2,341 outpatient mental‑health and substance‑use visits, 450 school‑based prevention contacts, 79 admissions to a 30‑day inpatient substance‑use program and 622 residential stabilization admissions (unique individuals 265, of whom 109 were pediatric admissions). "When we looked at visits to Sacred Heart ED the year prior to when we opened the core services and the year afterwards, there was a 75% reduction in visits to the ED with the primary behavioral health concern," Dr. Sam said.
Dr. Sam said the new crisis facility has shifted many admissions from involuntary commitment to voluntary stabilization, reducing county involvement and the county's potential commitment costs. He described average daily census (2.4 clients), average length of stay (2.3 days) and discharge outcomes: about 77% return home, 8% to Avera behavioral health and 10% to inpatient substance‑use treatment.
Budget request: Lewis and Clark requested a 3% increase in county funding for the coming year (presented as about $108,183). Dr. Sam argued the county realizes cost avoidance through reduced ED use, fewer court‑ordered commitments and less law‑enforcement time spent transporting patients.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about pediatric stays, length of family program stays (up to a year for the proposed women and children's residential program) and the distribution of funding across counties. Dr. Sam said Yankton County represents a majority of individuals served regionally and described plans for outreach and a mobile crisis response team.
Ending: Commissioners thanked the presenter for the data; no formal appropriation action was taken at the July 7 meeting, but the funding request will be part of upcoming budget deliberations.
