HomeMy WebLinkAboutMOU for RNP Kittitas County Jail - fully executedMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between
Merit Resource Services and the following community partners: Kittitas County Health
Network, Community Health of Central Washington, Kittitas County Recovery Community
Organization, Kittitas Valley Hospital, Ellensburg Police Department, Cie Elum Police
Department, Kittitas County District Behavioral Health Court, Kittitas County Misdemeanant
Probation, Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue, Kittitas County Health Department, Kittitas County
Jail, Hopesource
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into between Merit Resource Services
(hereinafter referred to as Merit) Recovery Navigator Program (hereinafter referred to as RNP)
and Kittitas County Health Network, Community Health of Central Washington, Kittitas County
Recovery Community Organization, Kittitas Valley Hospital, Ellensburg Police Department, Cle
Elum Police Department, Kittitas County District Behavioral Health Court, Kittitas County
Misdemeanant Probation, Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue, Kittitas County Health Department,
Kittitas County Jail, and Hopesource for the purpose of participating in the OPERATIONAL WORK
GROUP (hereinafter referred to as OWG).
Effective Date: July 1, 2023 — until terminated in writing by either party.
Merit Resource Services RNP in
Yakima and Kittitas Counties
Phone: (509) 925-9821
Title
Contact Name
Phone
Email
Executive Director
Shereen Hunt
(509) 469-
9366
shunt@meritresources.org
Recovery Navigator Manager
Melissa Denner
509 ) 830-
(5 9
mdenner@meritresources.org
(Name and address of partner)
Kittitas County Jail
205 W 5th Suite 1/Jail Ellensburg,
WA 98926
Phone: (509) 962-7527
Fax: (509) 962-7088
Agency and Title I Contact Name I Phone I Email
Merit and RNP OWG 2023
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Kittitas County Jail Jeff Barnsley 509.962.7527 1 Jeff.barnsley@co.kittitas.wa.us
Kittitas County Jail Edward Buntin 509.962.7527,1 Edward.buntin@co.kittitas.wa.us
PURPOSE
The purpose of this MOU is to exchange information regarding case reviews at each meeting. The
OWG discusses new arrest diversions or social contact referrals, the reason for diversion, whether those
referred have completed their intakes, and clients' case plans. The OWG jointly problem solves to
identify options and potential solutions to support clients' progress.
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
The period of performance of this Agreement shall be ongoing and will remain in effect until
terminated or suspended.
STATEMENT OF COLLABORATION
The intent of Recovery Navigator Programs (RNP) is to provide social services to individuals who
intersect with police because of creating or delivering a counterfeit substance; knowingly
possess a counterfeit substance; or knowingly use a counterfeit substance in a public place.
Sec. 1. 5536-S2.SL and/or people who have frequent criminal legal system contact because of
unmet behavioral healthcare needs.
These programs are intended to serve people who are at risk of arrest, or already have been
involved in the criminal legal system.
The priority population for the RNP are individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and co-
occurring substance use disorder and mental health who are at risk of arrest and/or have
frequent contact with first responders, community members, friends, family, and who could
benefit from being connected to supportive resources and public health services when
amenable.
Diversion referrals and Social Contact referrals:
• There are two types of referrals into RNP: point of contact referrals by law enforcement
and social contact referrals by law enforcement, service providers, community
members, and friends/family.
• The RNP will prioritize a response to law enforcement calls in the beginning stages of
program implementation. In lieu of jail booking and referral to the prosecutor, law
enforcement is encouraged to offer a referral to assessment and services available
under RCW 10.31.110 or other program or entity responsible for receiving referrals in
lieu of legal system involvement, which may include, but are not limited to, arrest and
jail alternative programs established under RCW 36.28A.450, law enforcement assisted
diversion programs established under RCW 71.24.589, and the recovery navigator
program established under RCW 71.24.115.
Social contact referral means that an eligible individual can be referred into a RNP
without waiting for the moment of potential arrest. In these cases, the referred
Merit and RNP OWG 2023
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individual will still need to be screened against the site's eligibility criteria to ensure that
the person's needs are best met through an RNP.
Relationship. Nothing in this MOU shall be construed as making either party the partner, joint
venture, agent, employer, or employee of the other. Neither party shall have the authority to
make any statements, representations nor commitments of any kind or to take any action
binding on the other except as provided for herein or authorized in writing by the party to be
bound.
Confidentiality. As OWG participants, I may identify individuals and listen to private/personal
information shared by other OWG members. I agree not to re -disclose any patient -identifying
information or anything shared in the OWG meetings. I understand the importance of
maintaining confidentiality and I will not violate substance use disorder 42 CFR Part 1 and
HIPAA laws that protect all disclosures and private health information of participants in the RNP
L
Name of Partner Agency
CGA Y "41&
(Print and sign name)
Date:
MERIT Resource Services
Shereen Hunt, Executive Director
Date: _ O 1 I 3
Nei -it and RNP OWG 2023
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