NCW Leaders develop strategic plan to address substance abuse, mental health

Leaders from Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties gathered on May 13 for a workshop aimed at developing a strategic plan to address mental health and substance use challenges within the criminal justice system. The event, led by Connections Health Solutions, employed Sequential Intercept Model Mapping to pinpoint critical gaps in the behavioral health and justice systems. Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay highlighted the goal of providing communities with tools to improve services for adults facing these issues. Over 60 participants, including agency leaders and individuals with lived experiences, collaborated to create a detailed map of the pathways individuals follow through the justice system. This mapping includes stages from initial contact to access to community-based services.

The workshop explored strategies from other regions, which will be assessed and included in a forthcoming report. Substance use and mental health disorders, particularly opioid use disorder, are prevalent among justice-involved populations, with approximately 80% of those arrested testing positive for drugs. The final report will be available on the Chelan County website and aims to facilitate better care coordination to reduce overdose deaths.