Kansas jail works with agency for juvenile mental health

A Shawnee County detention facility has plans to work with a mental health agency for juvenile inmates in need of those services.

The Shawnee County Commission on Thursday approved a one-year, grant funded contract with the Family Service and Guidance Center agency. The contract will involve staff in the Shawnee County jail’s juvenile detention center working with a mental health professional to identify at-risk juveniles and then placing them in short-term therapeutic programs.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported (http://j.mp/2fFv0Dk) that of the 30 juvenile inmates, about 15 percent to 20 percent need mental health services.

Brian Cole, director of the county’s corrections department, says the contract is part of a larger department push to focus on mental health services.


Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com.