Chief Judge and Valeo make case for assisted outpatient treatment in Shawnee County

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A new program aimed at helping those dealing with mental health crises could make its way to Shawnee County soon.

Monday, Chief Judge Steven Ebberts along with the CEO of Valeo Behavioral Health Care Bill Persinger presented the case for an Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program to county commissioners.

It's similar to programs like drug courts, veteran courts and alternative sentencing courts.

AOT provides an individualized treatment that the courts would monitor in a push for the voluntary care and recovery journey of the individual. That looks like crisis intervention, medication, peer support, social services, housing, access to food and employment.

“It’s amazing what some peace and some supervision, the right kind of medication can do for an individual," CEO of Valeo Bill Persinger said, "get them back up on their feet sometimes within a matter of hours or days.”

The Chief Judge says it helps with re-hospitalization efforts, incarcerations, homelessness and suicides.

The implementation of the AOT program will be part of the court's budget request next Thursday, and Judge Ebberts says it could potentially save $222,000 within the community.

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