NORWICH – Money recently allocated by the New York State Office of Mental Health is allowing the Chenango County Department of Mental Hygiene Services to explore new options when it comes to providing rehabilitation services for inmates at the county jail.

In response to the reduction of services to state-supported inpatient facilities – namely the Greater Binghamton Health Center in Broome County and the Elmira Psychiatric Center in Chemung County – the state OMH has tagged $160,800 to be shared between Chenango and Delaware counties.

According to Chenango Mental Hygiene Services Director Ruth Roberts, those funds will be used to support four full-time positions between the Chenango and Delaware county jails (one engagement and transitional support position in each county, and one care recovery position in each county). The aim of those positions, said Roberts, is to provide services to inmates that may keep them from reverting to the lifestyles that landed them in jail in the first place.