Whatcom jail hopes to be used as a lighthouse for correctional facilities

Josh Hauserman is a mental health professional at Lifeline Connections a substance use and mental health treatment center with locations in Bellingham and Mount Vernon.

Whatcom County lacks physical space, there is simply no room to operate -

• Group therapy sessions

• Education and GED programs

• Vocational skill training

• Emotional regulation

• Parent teaching classes

  “They deserve more and that’s why I’m advocating for it” says Hauserman in an interview with Peter Frazier.

  I believe if we are given the opportunity to implement effective programmatic space for behavior change, I believe that we could establish ourselves as a benchmark, some sort of lighthouse for a correctional facility. A community that approaches behavioral health in a very research based and scientific way that is shown to work. So if we are given the chance to establish a little bit of innovation and creativity in out approach here, I believe deeply that it will pay off.”