To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson
title
RE: Request to accept the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant contract from the Michigan State Police (MSP)
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Request to accept the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant contract from the Michigan State Police (MSP)
BACKGROUND:
Maintaining a census of approximately 600 individuals, the Genesee County Jail holds a large number of individuals with complex needs. Historically, people have been lodged with very little support, but a program called I.G.N.I.T.E. (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) was established in 2020, providing education opportunities such as a high school diploma, financial empowerment, nutrition, electrical, carpentry, and CDL training. Offering education opportunities to justice-involved individuals has proven to create a tremendous amount of positive momentum. However, there is still a major need to provide additional support as they return home. The R.I.S.E. Team was formed in 2023 and has begun providing mental health support, peer recovery coaching, and case management for social determinants of health in the Genesee County Jail and as people return home. While this has been helpful in building capacity to address the behavioral health needs of justice-involved individuals in Genesee County, there is still a major need to develop further programming that increases access to MAT /MOUD for this vulnerable population. When people enter the criminal justice system, their access to treatment changes. Many will lose insurance benefits and services. For those who begin receiving services while incarcerated, many lose access, sometimes immediately, when they return to the community. This can be particularly dangerous for people who suddenly lose access to prescribed medications. To ensure the best possible outcomes for individuals, which include keeping them out of jails and prisons, we must create systems that support people as they transition both in and out of incarceration. People should receive appropriate support services while incarcerated and have a plan that connects them to community-based services and adequate insurance coverage before returning to the community, which is the mission of the R.I.S.E. Team. With the new medical services contract passed and Vital Core taking over June 1, 2025, it is well-positioned to support continuations and inductions for individuals who meet criteria for MAT/MOUD upon entering the jail. GCJ will work in partnership with Vital Core, New Paths, Inc., and an OTP methadone provider to accomplish this work. Implementation will include new assessment tools upon admission to identify individuals in need of continuing MAT/MOUD, new processes for prescribing the necessary medications and changes to provider roles based on medication type, new staff workflows to ensure each client is enrolled in jail -based outpatient treatment and receiving Peer Recovery Coaching throughout the service delivery period, and enhanced procedures for developing individualized aftercare plans with each participant before reentry. FY2026
DISCUSSION:
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has worked diligently with the Community Corrections and the Opioid Settlement Committee over the past two years to improve our jail MAT/MOUD expansion initiative. This focus ha allowed us to implement and expand our MOUD services to those incarcerated in the Genesee County Jail. The Opioid Committee has graciously provided match funds (RESO # 2025-2104) to dedicate a full-time corrections deputy to the RISE program. With this support we can ensure that every inmate that enters jail is screened for substance abuse and referred to appropriate medical services as well as wrap around services upon release. The grant award in the amount of $250,000.00 will be deposited into account # 2848-324.00
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Grant award in the amount of $250,000.00 will be deposited into account # 2848-324.00. Continued coordination with Community Corrections to ensure match funds are utilized to cover salary of RISE Deputy.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This conforms to the County Priorities by ensuring safer communities and healthier residents.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Office of Genesee County Sheriff to authorize accepting the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant from, and entering into a grant agreement with, the Michigan State Police, in the amount of $250,000.00 for the term commencing October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, whereby the grant will be used to fund the County Jail’s MAT/MOUD program, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the October 22, 2025 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the grant agreement on behalf of Genesee County.