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October 14th, 2005

SKAGIT COUNTY RECEIVES GRANT TO DEVELOP JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Counties (NACo) recently announced that Skagit County will receive a $5,000 grant to develop and support programs that divert individuals with mental illness from county jail and criminal justice systems. Funding support for the small grants program comes from Eli Lilly and Company.

Skagit County will utilize the grant to develop a comprehensive Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program, which will train law enforcement officers to identify the most appropriate methods for dealing with individuals with mental health needs and educate them about the resources available to redirect appropriate individuals to community mental health services as an alternative to arrest.

“These seed grants will divert offenders with mental illness from county jails to community-based treatment centers, where they will be better served.” said NACo President and Umatilla County, Ore. Commissioner Bill Hansell.

The five grantees are: Polk County, Iowa; Skagit County, Wash.; Maricopa County, Ariz.; Yolo County, Calif.; and Portage County, Ohio.