Jail Mental Health Needs Drive New Program For County
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 18, covering a range of county matters, including housing development, infrastructure upgrades, psychiatric services in the jail, and the 2026 budget planning process.
Jail Mental Health Program Moves Forward
The board approved a contract with Lakewood Health System for $42,000 to provide weekly psychiatric services at the county jail. The program, which will be funded through an Impact Grant from Sourcewell, is designed to address the growing mental health needs of inmates.
Under the contract, Lakewood Health System will provide services every Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, offering inmates access to mental health care that is typically unavailable in rural jails. The county will cover $41,000 of the program’s estimated $50,000-$55,000 annual cost, with the remaining funds used to reimburse the sheriff’s office for medications.
Officials believe this program will reduce mental health crises in jail, lessen the burden on emergency departments, and decrease staff burnout. Rather than waiting for a state pilot project, Wadena County has taken a proactive approach, becoming the first rural county in the region to implement such a service....
