JAIL EXPANSION: Our County jail is operating at
maximum capacity. Bookings in 2006 totaled 3,521. Some individuals who have been sentenced
to jail must wait six months or more to report to serve their time. Recently, the Board of
Supervisors authorized a needs study to support requests for funding to expand the jail
bed capacity. The state has indicated that it would be interested in financially assisting
with jail expansion only in counties that are also willing to host a 200-500 bed state
operated prison re-entry facility. In association with the facility, County Behavioral
Health Services would need to assist with mental health day treatment, crisis care and
continued care during the parole period for mental and substance abuse needs.
Although I have worked to establish and expand substance abuse
treatment programs in Siskiyou County and appreciate the impact that such programs can
have on someone’s life, I am not sure I want a prison facility in Siskiyou County.
Many of our towns are tiny and a large facility would quickly overwhelm them and change
their character. We don’t have a lot of unfilled jobs locally in which to rotate a
parolee. There is no guarantee that the prison population would be from our area, bringing
gangs and other influences into the county. We may, however, be able to partner in some
way with Shasta County. Let me know how you feel about it. marmstrong@co.siskiyou.ca.us
CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH:
Adequate dental care for low income children in Siskiyou County is a big problem. Few
dentists will take patients on California MediCal Dental, citing poor reimbursement and
much red tape. First 5 Siskiyou’s Oral Health Project provides pre-school
presentations on oral health; tooth brushing kits; initial oral health screenings for
children 0-5; and follow-up exams as needed - including cleaning and fluoride treatments.
This year, children at 14 pre-schools will be served.
AMERICORPS: Siskiyou County
has 30 AmeriCorps slots to fill for the Northstate Rural Assets Project. The Yreka Family Resource
Center is the central host site. (Contact Michelle O’Gorman 842-1313.) AmeriCorps
workers are volunteers who work 900-1700 hours. They receive a stipend of not less than
$8.50 an hour. Twenty percent of the AmeriCorps service time is dedicated to training. The
1700 hour positions may be eligible for health benefits and child care. The program
includes a scholarship and student loan deferment or forbearance. http://www.americorps.org/
Applicants must be at least 17 years old, a U.S. citizen, clear an
FBI/DOJ background check and either have a High School diploma or be in the process of
completing one. These AmeriCorps workers will serve as part-time afterschool “Asset
Development Coaches.” (40 Developmental Assets http://www.search-institute.org/assets/forty.html
) They will provide support to at risk students through physical activities, assisting
with homework, etc.
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