Nashville, TN – The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) announced Wellpath’s Kings County Early Access & Stabilization Services (EASS) as the CSAC 2022 Challenge Award winner in the Rural Administration of Justice & Public Safety category. The CSAC Challenge Awards are the premier program for recognizing and elevating the most innovative programs developed and implemented by California’s 58 counties.
Wellpath’s EASS program is a collaboration with the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) designed to minimize delays for incarcerated patients awaiting competency restoration services. The program begins competency restoration for patients in participating California jails within one week of a court determination that the patient is Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST).
Wellpath is one of 19 winning county programs that tackled a wide breadth of pressing topics in California. CSAC received 370 entries from Counties, showcasing the creative and collaborative solutions utilized across the state. To learn about all the CSAC 2022 Challenge Award-winning programs, visit the 2022 Challenge Awards page.
“We have observed that the national shortage of programs providing competency restoration services can result in long delays for the necessary care,” said Dr. Carin Kottraba, Wellpath Vice President of Mental Health Innovations. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award and are even more enthusiastic about working with the California Department of State Hospitals to provide competency restoration services so that patients can avoid long wait times for meaningful access to the justice system,” she said.
“Congratulations to all our well-deserved Challenge Award winners,” said Graham Knaus, CSAC Executive Director. “Counties create, develop, and operate the most essential community services – often with shoestring funding and little to no recognition. CSAC looks forward to honoring the dedicated county leaders and employees who work to improve our communities each year through our Challenge Awards program.”
Wellpath currently provides EASS services in 23 California counties, adding one-to-two sites a week, including: Calaveras, Del Norte, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Merced, Madera, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Santa Barbara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Ventura, and Yuba. The goal is for EASS to be available in up to 54 facilities by July 2023.
ABOUT WELLPATH
Wellpath is the premier provider of localized, high-quality, compassionate care to vulnerable patients in challenging clinical environments. Wellpath holds patients at the center of everything we do and promotes rigorous standards of care and innovation. With over 14,200 clinicians and professionals in 36 states across the U.S. and Australia, Wellpath provides medical and mental healthcare services for over 300,000 patients daily in nearly 600 facilities, including prisons, jails, state hospitals, forensic treatment, and civil commitment centers. Learn more at wellpathcare.com.
ABOUT CSAC
The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is the voice of California’s 58 counties. www.counties.org/
