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Calhoun County funds Summit Pointe 'Stepping Up' mental-health services in jail with ARPA support
Summary
Summit Pointe briefed the board on a Stepping Up initiative to place mental-health staff in the county jail; the positions will be paid with Calhoun County ARPA funds and Summit Pointe will partner with Wayne State University to track outcomes against baseline data.
Summit Pointe officials described new jail-based mental-health services the agency will provide in Calhoun County, funded in part with the county's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation.
Jeannie Goodrich, CEO of Summit Pointe, introduced program staff and said the Stepping Up Initiative is intended to reduce the number of people with serious mental illness held in the county jail by providing screening, recovery coaching and connections to community-based care. She said Summit Pointe has been collecting baseline data since the program began and will partner with Wayne State University for ongoing outcome comparisons.
Megan Taft, introduced by Goodrich, outlined program duties and the role of a recovery coach to help individuals develop individualized care plans and navigate systems of care. A Summit Pointe recovery coach shared a personal account of time spent in jail and described helping others access services and supports.
Sheriff Steve Hinkley described the initiative as a long-term solution and a model that he said is showing promise across the state, noting potential downstream cost savings from reduced jail stays and improved linkage to care. Several commissioners, including Kathy-Sue Vette, Jake Smith and Chair Steve Frisbie, expressed support for the program and its anticipated benefits for both public safety and mental-health outcomes.
The presentation did not include a formal vote; county officials said the new staff positions are funded through previously approved ARPA appropriations and will be implemented by Summit Pointe in coordination with county partners. The board did not take further action during the meeting.
