The Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist (myself) assists mentally-ill individuals who have been incarcerated at Thurston County Corrections Facility with the purpose of providing a positive transition for release back into the community in an effort to reduce recidivism. Assistance with applying for benefits from state and federal agencies such as DSHS and Social Security is provided by the Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist as well as linking housing, transportation and treatment resources in the community. The Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist correlates and evaluates requests made through inmate kites for Re-Entry services. General assistance to individuals requesting support who have not been classified as Mental Health will be provided on a space-available basis. The Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist carries a caseload of 15-20 mentally ill offenders who are in need to extra assistance while they are in custody. Meeting with each of these inmates for case management will take place for a minimum of 30 minutes each month in addition to addressing their immediate concerns as they arise. Once an inmate is close to his or her scheduled release date, the Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist will meet with them to discuss the concerns addressed in our initial meeting as well as any potential changes. At that point, the Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist will create a Release Plan Packet for the individual that provides a list of the resources available to address their specific concerns. The Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist will work with Thurston County District Court to help facilitate alternatives to incarceration to those mentally-ill individuals who may be appropriate for diversion into community treatment programs. Referrals may be sent from District Court judges directly or based on the information provided on the daily booking sheet. Thurston County District Court Release Plans will be completed for individuals determined appropriate for diversion. In the first quarter of 2007 the Diversion/Re-Entry Specialist has saved Thurston County over $70,000 that would have been spend on keeping Mentally Ill Offenders in custody instead of in the community receiving the treatment they need.