Carson City October 25, 2022
The Nevada Legislative Interim Finance Committee (IFC) approved $55.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding last week to support Nevada's Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) efforts to improve forensic evaluation and treatment services.
Before the pandemic, Nevada forensic psychiatric hospitals began experiencing a challenge to keep up with evaluating and treating patients in the criminal justice system. The limited bed capacity, increased number of individuals committed to the State hospitals long term, and staff shortages resulted in the inability of the Division to admit individuals from jail timely creating a waitlist. The ARPA funding approved by IFC will help add the needed beds to meet the demand.
DPBH has worked with Las Vegas officials to acquire the unused units of the Las Vegas City Jail to renovate and license the space to meet psychiatric hospital licensure while ensuring a therapeutic environment. Reimagining this building aligns with DPBH's assurance to address mental health outside of the jail system and repurposing unused spaces for the benefit of the public and growing demand.
"The growing demand to evaluate and treat patients in the criminal justice system at the State's forensic psychiatric hospitals with limited bed capacity and staffing have been challenging," stated Lisa Sherych, Administrator of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. "I am grateful for our many partners who have come together to support this effort.”
DPBH continues to work with stakeholders to address where investments in mental and behavioral health are needed to expand the range of care to help relieve the current pressure on this system.