POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd unveiled the agency's "groundbreaking new approach" to providing mental health and substance addiction services, specifically at the county jail.
Judd detailed a new program during a news conference Wednesday afternoon that he says will help address the physical and mental health of county inmates with the ultimate goal of reducing crime and recidivism rates.
The sheriff's office cited statistics from the Bureau of Justice, which it says show that 63% of inmates in Polk County have a substance abuse disorder and 44% have a mental health disorder.
The initiative brings together 16 government agencies and nonprofits in Polk County to create the STARR Program (Substance Treatment Advocacy Recovery and Reentry). These participating organizations will coordinate efforts to work with people who are currently or recently incarcerated and are diagnosed with mental health and substance abuse disorders, Judd said.
Some of the added programs for inmates include bringing in Narcotics Anonymous meetings into the jail, instruction on fatherhood engagement and ways to address mental health issues "before they reach a point of crisis," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
Officials said the program seeks to improve communication between health providers to improve outcomes for its participants.
“We can't wait on the White House in D.C. or the state house in Tallahassee to make a positive difference," Judd said. "We're taking the resources we have locally and our goal is to set the model, the mold and the trend for not only this community — this county — but for the state and the nation.”
Denise Harrison, a peer specialist with TriCounty Human Services, said the program will work with individuals on a case-by-case basis. She says the personalized approach will better address current gaps in mental health and substance abuse services.
"What we're asking them is: 'What is your idea of success? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to do?' And from there, we develop a plan and we hold them accountable," Harrison said.
Other areas the program will focus on include assistance with case management, housing, medication costs and employment, according to Judd. He says funding for the STARR program was set aside by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners.