By Edith Brady-Lunny
Pantagraph
BLOOMINGTON — The director of the McLean County Health Department was the target of some tough scrutiny Wednesday by County Board members concerned about delays in mental health services for inmates released from jail.
Following his routine business with the justice committee, Walt Howe was asked to stay for a discussion led by committee Chairman Bill Caisley on how almost $700,000 from a mental health property tax levy is spent by the McLean County Center for Human Services, a private community mental health agency.
The health department oversees the tax levy expenditures through a mental health board. Casisley said jail staff members have a hard time reaching CHS for follow-up care for mentally ill inmates.
A delay of several weeks for an appointment is inhumane, expensive and dangerous, he said.
“If they are not seen by CHS, they tend to revert to their prior condition. They end up back in jail with a psychiatrist prescribing medication, and they’re right back where they were before,” said Caisley, who made similar statements at Tuesday’s justice committee meeting.
Sheriff Mike Emery and the County Board have begun the process of addressing inadequate housing conditions at the jail that include keeping mentally ill inmates in the booking area. An increasing number of inmates with more serious illnesses are cycling into the jail, according to Emery.
A written protocol that outlines how CHS will handle released inmates is necessary and should be in place before mid-2014 when the new funding cycle starts for CHS, said Caisley.
Full story: Health department head challenged on ex-inmate services