County approves DBT classes for inmates, $31,200 contract

Lancaster County commissioners approved a contract on July 7 for Genda Family Services to provide dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) classes to inmates in county custody, at a cost not to exceed $31,200.

Maria Hatfield, re‑entry administrator at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections, told the board the provider previously taught DBT at the jail before the COVID‑19 pandemic and would resume instruction. "We're just asking for approval for Genda Family Services to come in and instruct dialectical behavior therapy for the inmates," Hatfield said, explaining the contract will take over one WISER DBT class and add three general‑population classes — two for male inmates and one for female inmates.

Hatfield said the program is evidence‑based and focuses on mindfulness practices; commissioners expressed support for expanding programming that helps people "turn in a new direction." Commissioner motion and roll call resulted in approval; the roll call recorded five affirmative votes and the motion carried.

The contract language in the meeting record sets the county cost at "not to exceed $31,200." The board did not specify implementation dates during the meeting; Hatfield indicated classes would be scheduled once the contractor begins services. The county will oversee the program through the Department of Corrections' re‑entry office and monitor class delivery as part of existing inmate programming.