Grays Harbor County, WA

Grays Harbor County Government & Public Health

washington

Rural | Population: 77,290

Grays Harbor County faces pressing challenges in addressing behavioral health, including substance use disorders (SUD). The opioid epidemic has significantly worsened these issues, contributing to elevated overdose fatality rates and a critical shortage of mental health providers. Many residents with untreated behavioral health conditions end up interacting with the criminal justice system rather than receiving appropriate community-based care. This dynamic perpetuates a costly cycle of incarceration, competency restoration, and re-incarceration for individuals with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

Key COSSUP Initiatives

Screening & assessment

Universal screening for behavioral needs at booking and timely assessment, as needed.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Provide access to medications to treat individuals with opioid use disorders in the jail and support continuity of care post-release.

Comprehensive reentry support

Connect individuals to healthcare providers, housing and transportation resources, and treatment services upon release.

peer recovery support services

Embed certified peer recovery specialists with lived experience in jail facilities to engage incarcerated individuals, build rapport, and provide recovery support.

Anticipated Benefits of Project

• Reduction in overdose fatalities

  This project aims to reduce overdose fatalities through access to timely and effective treatment, including medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD). 

• Increased public safety

  This project aims to increase public safety through seamlessly transitioning individuals from treatment in custody to community-based treatment. 

• Improved reentry outcomes

  This project aims to improve the reentry process and therefore reduce recidivism by addressing barriers to treatment, including housing and transportation. 

Collaborative Partners

• Grays Harbor Public Health

• Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office

• Coastal Community Action Program

• Community Integrated Health Services

Project Director

Wilma Weber
Grays Harbor County Public Health
wweber@graysharbor.us
360-500-4069

This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA23GK02258COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.