ST. JOSEPH — The Berrien County Trial Court’s Wellness Court, formerly known as Mental Health Court, is working to expand staff and has seen the number of participants triple since July.
The court has a vacant, 100 percent grant-funded position for a part-time/temporary coordinator while facing the prospect of achieving or exceeding program capacity in the current grant year.
The Berrien County board on Thursday took a step toward addressing that concern. Acting on a resolution brought forward by the Personnel & Human Services Committee, the county board approved adding a full-time resource coordinator.
According to the authorizing resolution, “The increased number of participants require daily staff availability in order to responsibly serve their needs and maintain public safety; and the title of the position needs to be updated due to the change in the name of the court as well as to better reflect the purpose of the position.”
There is funding available in the fiscal year 2026 grant for a salary and benefits for a full-time resource coordinator, commissioners said.
The resolution includes the following disclosure: “In the event that the grants funding this position are not renewed and/or are reduced, this position along with the rest of the Berrien Wellness Court program may terminate at any time unless alternative funding is obtained.”
The Wellness Court is one of several specialty courts that are part of Berrien County Trial Court and are funded in large part by state grants.
Other items
In another matter Thursday, the county board voted to renew an agreement that allows for overflow parking at Silver Beach County Park for events at Silver Beach Shadowland during the off season for the beach.
Commissioners reported that since 2010, when the agreement was first put in place, there have been no reports of issues, property damage or other concerns. The agreement expired this month and was renewed for another three years.
The cost of security and snow or sand removal during the winter months is paid for by Shadowland.
Renewal of the agreement was previously reviewed and approved by county attorney Thaddeus Hackworth.
In other business, the county board accepted a $35,000 grant from the Best Friends Animal Society to Berrien County Animal Services to facilitate foster coordinator services to continue and improve its foster program.
The Best Friends Animal Society works to build community programs and partnerships across the nation to help reduce the number of homeless pets.
