Community Corrections may get a full-time drug and alcohol counselor, the Lyon County Commission learned Wednesday.
Commissioners heard from Bill Persinger, executive director of the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas and Robert Sullivan, director of Community Corrections, during Wednesday’s study session. The two entities have been looking at getting a full-time drug and alcohol counselor for community corrections. The counselor would be employed by Mental Health and would address the needs of juvenile offenders, Persinger said.
The offenders would still have the option of getting evaluations where they want to, but this would give them the additional option of getting it done by Mental Health.
“It’s something that would help my agency and officers enormously,” Sullivan said.
Commission Chairman Marshall Miller said a resolution would be drafted and voted on during today’s commission meeting for approval.
Persinger also presented Mental Health’s annual report to commissioners. In the seven county area Mental Health serves, there were 1,536 admissions in 2006 compared to 1,237 in 2005. The area includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee Counties.
Persinger’s report also stated that the Mental Health Center operates on an annual budget of about $8,000,000 and employs 183 full- and part-time staff. The center operates two group homes for adults in Emporia as well as crisis apartments for adults and children. Services also are offered in hospital emergency rooms, county jails, nursing homes and other locations as needed.