FARGO — A new Cass County task force is tackling mental health treatment, homelessness and substance use disorders affecting the community.
On Wednesday, April 8, Sheriff Jesse Jahner, County Commissioner Joel Vettel and other officials discussed possible statewide legislation aimed at addressing a shortfall in mental health services.
Vettel said the legislation is intended to help people who might fall through the cracks. The task force is seeking a unified voice in the state to keep people on track with medications and treatments.
Jahner said there are currently no wrap-around services for people with mental health issues or substance use disorders when they leave state hospitals.
“This allows them to digress, and fall back into patterns where they may be committing crimes, and ending up back in jail,” he said.
Fargo-based Public Defender Monty Mertz echoed the concern, noting that many of his clients struggle with both mental health issues and chemical dependency.
One idea discussed was the creation of regional centers to provide the wrap-around services the task force is seeking.
Vettel said the conversation is just beginning.
“We’re serving people that really need the services the most in the best way possible. We really talked about how do we bring together those individuals from across the state and who needs to be involved and then we’re actually going to be making contact with those groups … and hopefully start that conversation across the state,” Vettel said.
Federal funding was mentioned as a possibility, but Vettel said the task force will also explore other options to fund wrap-around services.
Ryan McNamara joined WDAY as a reporter in late 2024. He is a native of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2024.
His time as a Husky included copious amounts of time spent at “The Herb” reporting on Husky hockey, or at Halenbeck Hall calling Husky basketball. He also spent two summers with the Northwoods League’s St. Cloud Rox. Along with his duties in news and sports, Ryan dons a headset for occasional play-by-play broadcasts for North Dakota and Minnesota high school sports.
When he’s away from the station, he’s most likely lifting, finding time to golf, or taking in as much college basketball as possible, in order to complete the elusive perfect March Madness bracket.