Jail diversion program expanding

July 05--Kramer said with all the confusion going on with the Mental Health Institutes, county services, programs and organizations are trying to bridge the gap. Recently, a number of counties signed a step-up initiative to help better facilitate services for mentally ill people in their counties.

Last week, Gov. Terry Branstad vetoed portions of a bill intended to maintain MHIs in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant, assuring their closure unless the Legislature overrides the veto -- which appears to be a long shot -- or there's a successful court challenge, which could take years to resolve.

"There's been a lot of confusion and normally, we don't know until the last minute that the changes are made," Kramer said.

The regional mental health group Southeast Iowa LINK, an eight-county organization comprised of county supervisors and specialists who coordinate mental health and disability services, have discussed whether Kramer's work has been effective in the Des Moines and Lee county jails.

After hearing positive news about the program, three more counties want to jump on board and increase mental health services for people in their counties. Kramer is working with jails and mental health program offices in Washington, Henry and Louisa counties to start similar structures in their facilities.

"Since we regionalized, we became aware of the program and saw the benefits, and we wanted to follow suit. It follows through with our goal to take care of people and help those people reestablish themselves in the community," said Bobbie Wulf, coordinator of Washington County Mental Health and Disability Services.

Area officials estimate about a 5 percent reduction of mentally ill people coming through the system since Kramer started her work, and Kramer noted in her first six months, she had no repeat offenders in the jails, where she worked.

While the program expansion is just in talks, the jails are prepared and eager to work with someone like Kramer.

"I know our jailer and sheriff have space identified in the jail, and they are ready to bring someone in and help with this," Henry County MHDS coordinator Sarah Berndt said.

Kramer said it still is early to bring someone into the jails, but the money is there and she is pleased to see her program growing.

"It's really exciting. On a personal level, it makes me feel great. And on a professional level, it makes me feel great," said Kramer, who has been busy trying to set up the expansion of her pioneering program with the three other counties, hosting meetings on a regular basis to explain how the program works.

Kramer said the program she monitors wants to help people with mental illness start relationships with organizations in their communities to keep them out of jail and from becoming repeat offenders.

"We have the resources here in Washington County, but we have to work better together to better serve the people. This should help provide that communications link," Wulf said.

That link is crucial for offenders with mental health issues.

"They tend to commit crimes, like public disturbance, and they end up in jail instead of getting the help they need," Berndt said. "You see in the media, it's been reported that jails and prisons are the No. 1 provider of mental health services."

Berndt hopes people seek help voluntarily.

"They go to jail and then to court and a judge tells them to go get help. This way someone can say, 'I'm making appointments for people.' It's more about giving them the tools to follow through with, instead of someone just saying go do it," she said.

To help cover the added counties, Kramer said additional staff will be needed. The money to do that is available through grants that pay for Kramer's position, which is a relief for the smaller counties.

"Over the years, I've heard of programs, and the problem is how do you implement this in a rural area and be financially responsible and effective. After some talks, I think there is a way to implement something like this in our rural counties," Wulf said.

County officials will meet with Kramer once a month until the programs can stand on their own.

___

(c)2015 The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa)

Visit The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa) at www.thehawkeye.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.