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Wexford County jail has its 1st new social worker

WEXFORD COUNTY— The Wexford County Sheriff’s office has hired a social worker, starting this week, to work at the jail to help support inmates struggling with mental illness. A move aimed at lightening the burden on current jail staff.

County jail administrator Mike McDaniel said they have had several instances where inmates need more support than what jail staff can provide.

“It seems to be, a daily basis. You know, 4 to 5 individuals that require extra attention or care. It’s very time consuming. It doesn’t distract them from their regular duties, but it does require extra time and attention,” said McDaniel.

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He said the goal is to help inmates in crisis get treatment and they hope it reduces the number of inmates who return to jail.

“Throughout the last few years. There’s been an increased need for mental health for inmates that have been identified in whether they are in a crisis or need more further mental health care and what resources can provide for them,” said McDaniel.

He said although his staff is trained in mental health, not to the degree of a social worker.

“The social worker is able to come in, counsel, identify things and, you know, get with our jail medical or maybe our local mental health or whoever that she would identify to get them the additional help that they need that staff cannot provide to them,” said McDaniel.

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The jail’s new social worker Amy Cox was already working at the jail as a substance abuse counselor. She says she’s excited for her new role.

“I’ll be able to work with people individually to make sure that their mental health needs are being first of all identified and to help them in getting the treatment that they need. It improves treatment in the jail. So, people are less likely to experience problems in the jail,” said Cox.

The hope is to help people as they leave the jail and transition back into society-hoping to curb the revolving door some inmates struggling with mental health seems to find themselves in.

“There’s a two-week window of time after someone leaves the jail where they’re most at risk for mental health crisis and substance use relapse. Trying to plug them into resources as close to their departure from the jail as possible is really, really important,” said Cox.

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McDaniel said he’s seen it where people struggling with mental health have made a return to the jail for the same charge or a related charge.

Cox said she’s happy the sheriff and jail administrator see the value in a social worker and hopes to lessen the burden on jail staff.

I am thrilled that they’re in support of the work that I’m going to be doing. And I think it’ll improve or what’s happening with inmates while they’re here incarcerated. And I think it will improve their success once they’re leaving the jail,” said Cox.

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