Sheriff and health officials report jail healthcare gains and data issues; board seeks aligned audits
July 14, 2026 | Santa Barbara County, California
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The Board received the California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG)/Wellpath 2025 annual report on health care services in county jail facilities.
Sheriff's custodial staff and county health officials highlighted significant program growth: participation in the medically assisted treatment (MAT) program increased sharply (from 726 to 1,216 served in the referenced period), staff reported tighter discharge planning and appointment scheduling at release, and the county is preparing for CalAIM integration to track downstream outcomes. The sheriff's office reported a vacancy rate around 6.5% in 2026 (an improvement from prior years) and said additional positions authorized in previous contracts have been filled.
Board members raised concerns about grievances and reporting consistency: supervisors noted a discrepancy between the number of grievances the sheriff reported (548) and the number Wellpath reported (507). County and custody staff said some differences reflect routing of ADA and QA grievances to different units and that released detainees' grievances remain logged even if outreach is limited after release. County Health staff said substantiated grievances trigger corrective action plans reviewed monthly via the MAC process.
Supervisors asked that future Wellpath reports be aligned with the county's independent audits and that audit reports be presented timely (staff said County Health will return in September and that combined reporting will be the long‑term plan). The Board voted to receive and file the report.
What happens next: County Health will present an aligned audit and Wellpath annual report in September and work to improve grievance tracking and consistency across reporting entities.
Sheriff's custodial staff and county health officials highlighted significant program growth: participation in the medically assisted treatment (MAT) program increased sharply (from 726 to 1,216 served in the referenced period), staff reported tighter discharge planning and appointment scheduling at release, and the county is preparing for CalAIM integration to track downstream outcomes. The sheriff's office reported a vacancy rate around 6.5% in 2026 (an improvement from prior years) and said additional positions authorized in previous contracts have been filled.
Board members raised concerns about grievances and reporting consistency: supervisors noted a discrepancy between the number of grievances the sheriff reported (548) and the number Wellpath reported (507). County and custody staff said some differences reflect routing of ADA and QA grievances to different units and that released detainees' grievances remain logged even if outreach is limited after release. County Health staff said substantiated grievances trigger corrective action plans reviewed monthly via the MAC process.
Supervisors asked that future Wellpath reports be aligned with the county's independent audits and that audit reports be presented timely (staff said County Health will return in September and that combined reporting will be the long‑term plan). The Board voted to receive and file the report.
What happens next: County Health will present an aligned audit and Wellpath annual report in September and work to improve grievance tracking and consistency across reporting entities.
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