Montana Association of Counties convenes mental health summit

The Montana Association of Counties (MACo) convened a diverse group of 100 elected county officials, mental
health care providers, county law enforcement officials and consumers for two and a half days (March 22-24) to discuss the state of mental health services in Montana and to ensure that the county voice is heard in the next legislative session.

The summit sought to inform county officials and other leaders about key mental health issues faced by counties in Montana, including a serious shortfall in funding for mental health services, an overcrowded jail system, an overcrowded state hospital system, and increasing rates of contact between police officers and people with mental illness.

Participants heard a presentation on the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) implemented in Miami-Dade County (FL), from visiting speaker Judge Steven Leifman. Judge Leifman described the success of the CIT program in diverting individuals with mental illness away from the criminal justice system, and encouraged Montana policymakers to capitalize on existing resources in seeking community solutions.

Read more about the summit in this article in the National Association of Counties' County News.