IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County officials are so far pleased with the mental health services offered for jail inmates through ATC Healthcare Services of MidMichigan.

The county’s contract provides nine hours of mental health staffing weekly, reimbursed through a grant, and that’s typically been extended to 12 to 13 hours, Sheriff Aaron Rochon told the county board this week.

Recently, 22 of 54 inmates were being seen through the program, Rochon said.

Commissioner Kevin Sullivan, who volunteers as a pastor at the jail, said the ATC staff is doing good work. “I can’t applaud or praise enough,” he said.

Many of the inmates screened under the program have substance abuse histories as well, Rochon explained. ATC’s services include Medication-Assisted Treatment, or MAT, which is an addiction therapy designed to ease the effects of detoxification.

Rochon said two inmates have written letters of appreciation and the correctional center in general has experienced a better environment.

The county board in October approved a contract with ATC that includes a full-time registered nurse, along with limited nurse practitioner services, at $191,360 for the year. Medications are an additional cost, but reimbursements may come from mental health initiatives and substance abuse programs, along with billing an inmate’s insurance.

With mental health staffing currently supported by a grant, Rochon told the board he’ll continue to seek funding sources to keep the program going. Jails in Michigan are legally required to provide medical care to inmates.

In another matter, the board received an update from Trevor Kadlec, who oversees a Marquette-based regional corrections program that Dickinson County joined a year ago.

The state-funded program helps guide criminal defendants through court proceedings and avenues to rehabilitation.

It provides pretrial risk assessments aimed at identifying a defendant’s likelihood of appearing in court, potential risks to public safety and chances of violating bond conditions. Pretrial supervision focuses on court appearances and public safety.

The program’s assessments, Kadlec said, are “not a be-all and end-all” but are a tool to assist the judicial system.

Another component is access to the TRICAP probation residential center in Saginaw. Three defendants from Dickinson County have entered TRICAP, with two pending.

With up to 150 days of treatment, the TRICAP center is often “a life-changer,” Kadlec said.

Last year, Marquette County Community Corrections became regional when it was joined by Alger and Dickinson counties. Iron County may soon join and there is also a proposal to add Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga counties.

The program is grant-funded through the Michigan Office of Community Corrections/Department of Corrections under Public Act 511 of 1988. Dickinson County will be asked next month to again participate.

Sullivan currently serves on the program’s regional advisory board.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.