11/20/2025
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Labette Center and Labette County Jail Expand Behavioral Health Services for Incarcerated Individuals
Parsons, KS — November 19, 2025 — Labette Center for Mental Health Services and the Labette County Jail are partnering to remove barriers to care for individuals within the jail system, ensuring access to substance use and mental health support during incarceration and beyond.
Matt Atteberry, LSCSW, Executive Director of Labette Center, emphasized the importance of this initiative:
“Barriers such as limited awareness of available resources, restricted access to care, and the chronic nature of addiction often prevent individuals from engaging in treatment. These challenges highlight the need for a proactive, structured approach that begins during incarceration and continues seamlessly after release. Such a model can reduce recidivism and improve long-term outcomes.”
This collaboration builds on several years of joint efforts, including Labette County’s participation in the Stepping Up Initiative, which introduced mental health screenings during jail intake. In summer 2024, Labette Center began offering group-based substance use treatment within the jail.
Sheriff Darren Eichinger noted the significance of the program:
“We are pleased to announce the launch of a new partnership with the Labette Center for Mental Health. A significant number of individuals entering our jail struggle with mental health challenges, many of which are connected to illicit drug use. This program will provide those individuals with timely access to professional mental health services while they are in custody.”
Between March and September 2025, 316 Brief Jail Mental Health Screens were conducted, resulting in 49 individuals receiving treatment services—despite the absence of dedicated funding.
To expand these efforts, the Labette County Commission approved $40,000 from the Labette County Opioid Settlement Fund on November 10.
Vince Schibi, Chairman of the Labette County Commission, stated,
“Labette County Commissioners fully support the expanded mental health screening and continuing treatment for the inmates confined in the Labette County jail. This will also help with future counseling after jail. Labette Center for Mental Health services have once again stepped up to fill a crucial need in our society. If we can help even one person learn to stay drug free or crime free and live a productive life in our community this program is a success.”
The enhanced program will launch December 1 and include:
• Qualified Mental Health Professional/Addiction Counselor: Providing therapy and substance use treatment three days per week, three hours per day.
• Re-entry Case Manager: Assisting two days per week, two hours per day with housing, employment, and other resources for successful community reintegration.
• Peer Support Specialist: Engaging with inmates two days per week, two hours per day. Peer Support Specialists bring lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges, offering unique insight and encouragement.
Sheriff Eichinger added:
“By establishing this support early, we hope to create a pathway for continued treatment after release. Our goal is to help participants build healthier, more stable lives and reduce the cycle of crisis that so often brings them back into the criminal justice system. This collaboration represents an important step toward improving outcomes for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
During incarceration, participants will be active clients of Labette Center, ensuring a seamless transition to ongoing care upon release. This model is expected to significantly increase post-release engagement in treatment, improve behavioral health outcomes, support recovery from substance use, and reduce recidivism.
Labette Center for Mental Health Services provides a full range of mental health and substance abuse services to clients of all ages and works closely with local agencies to provide the best care possible. The professionals at LCMHS work tirelessly to create hope and opportunities for life change by providing education, support, consultation, and therapeutic behavioral health services.
For additional information contact:
Monica M. Simpson – PR/Marketing/Admin. Assistant
Labette Center for Mental Health Services
PO Box 258
1730 Belmont
Parsons, KS 67357
620-421-3770 ext. 128
monica@lcmhs.com
Labette Center for Mental Health Services, Inc., (LCMHS) is a licensed community mental health center (CMHC) and a certified community behavioral health center (CCBHC)serving Labette County Kansas
