The Access to Mental Health Services Interim Study Committee held its third meeting on Sept. 11 at the State Capitol in Pierre.
The agenda included presentations from a number of organizations, including Rapid City Regional Hospital President and CEO John Pierce who presented on West River inpatient mental health needs.
The committee also heard from the Pierre/Fort Pierre Mental Health Task Force, Catholic Social Services of the Black Hills, South Dakota Department of Health, South Dakota Department of Social Services, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department and the Rapid City Crisis Care Center.
Committee members received  information on the mental health continuum of care, policy funding for mental health services in South Dakota and a qualitative data update from community based mental health centers and Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota.
