Lee County Triage Center and Low Demand Shelter Ann Arnall, Deputy Director Lee County Human Services

Opened April 28, 2008

Pre-Arrest Diversion Program  Voluntary alternative to incarceration and inappropriate emergency room utilization  Targets low level offenses (trespass, open container, disturbing the peace)  Primarily for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis who are homeless, indigent, and/or intoxicated  Complements Crisis Intervention Training

Program Design  Modeled after 24/7 no refusal drop off for law enforcement (Memphis model of CIT)  Current model allows 8 hours of intake  Strong community collaborative based on assets of partners  Utilized existing capital infrastructure – vacant former children’s CSU  Capacity 22 individuals at any given time

Program Design  Offers in-depth nursing and psycho-social assessments  Person must be able to safely stay at center  Following satisfactory nursing assessment person enters the low demand shelter component  Average length of stay at shelter is 12 days  Staff work to link individuals with appropriate community treatment and services

The shelter provides an alternative for police officers and emergency rooms for petty offenders or intoxicated patients who may not need jail or serious medical care. (John David Emmett/news-press.com)

Key Stakeholders  Lee County BOCC – administers grant and funds (2) intake clinicians  Salvation Army – operates low demand shelter  Lee Memorial Health System – provides nursing staff and nursing supplies  Lee Mental Health Center – provides facility, maintenance and intake clinician  Southwest Florida Addiction Services – provides intake clinician  United Way – provides match funds for food

Triage Center/Low Demand 2008/2009 Admissions 63 % LEO 33.5% Hospital 3.5% Other

Repeat Admissions 325 unduplicated clients 492 duplicated clients

Who does Triage Center Serve?  79% male population (County jail is 86% male)  78% white; 82% non-Hispanic  78% between ages of  15% Veterans  78% are homeless, of which  7% chronic (> 4 times)

Who does Triage Center Serve? Based on self disclosure during assessment 34% report taking medications which includes but is not limited to psychotropic drugs

Who does Triage Center Serve?  70% have prior arrest history in Lee County 70% misdemeanor 30% felony  Most common prior charges are: Trespass DUI Theft Battery

Impact on Criminal Justice System

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36% of time LEO would have taken to jail  Diverted 115 charges  25% reduction in arrests for low level offenses since opening  6% of people would have been charged with more than one crime If LEO had taken to jail, most common charges would be:  Trespass 38%  Loitering 28%  Open Container 11% Diverted 30 Marchman/Protective Custody

Impact on the Community  7.5% of time LEO would have taken to hospital Reduces impact of inappropriate utilization of emergency rooms  48% of time LEO would have taken nowhere Provides access to assessment, shelter, resources and treatment for people who would have otherwise been left on the streets  51% successfully linked with resources  43% were placed in housing/residential treatment program

Saves Law Enforcement Time  84% of time officers spend ≤ 5 minutes  10% of time officers spend ≤ 10 minutes  95% of officers are satisfied to highly satisfied with process  156 officers brought 309 people  34% of time individuals are brought by a CIT trained officer

Funding Sources  CJMHSA Grant $997,698 (3 year period)  Local Match $2 million (3 year period)  Match includes Lee County general funds, Lee Memorial Health System, Lee Mental Health Center, Inc., Salvation Army, Southwest Florida Addiction Services, and United Way of Lee County  Estimated cost per client $2,145 (includes value of some treatment services)

Questions  For additional information please contact Ann Arnall, Lee County Human Services 2440 Thompson Street Fort Myers, Florida