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The Behavioral Health Unit BHU

BHU was established to address the increasing number of individuals with mental health disorders and addictions who end up in jail. The program provides supervision, treatment, and support for defendants with high functional impairment and a high probability of re-offending. The goal is to enhance community safety, reduce recidivism rates, and minimize the negative impact of BHU defendants on public resources.

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The Behavioral Health Unit BHU

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  1. The Behavioral Health Unit BHU Patti Roadhouse Dominique Hardeman Harri-Ann Ellis August 18, 2015

  2. Why BHU was established Mental Health Disorders: More and more jails are becoming the ‘Asylum of Last Resort.’ With mental health hospitals closing wings and reducing populations in the hospital, the majority of these individuals are relegated to living on the streets. Once the mentally ill individual runs out of medication, they begin to ‘self medicate.’ Eventually they will come into contact with the police. Addictions: Often individuals with an addiction have a co-occurring untreated mental health issue. The addiction stems from ‘self-medicating’ to escape the symptomology of their illness. BHU: Supervises defendants that are identified to be acutely and chronically mentally ill. These defendants have a high level of functional impairment, frequent utilization of emergency response infrastructure with high probability to re-offend.

  3. BHU Development • March 6th Colloquium • Help assess individuals identified by the court as having special mental health needs, both DV and non-DV cases. • Promote effective communication between court probation and mental health services. • Coordinate services for housing, treatment, staying on medication, and mental health treatment. • Carry a specialized MH caseload for defendants identified to have MH needs.

  4. Goals of the BHU • Enhance community safety • Closely monitor court referred defendants • Establish reporting criteria • Establish violation standards • Impact Recidivism Rates • Lowering/reducing severity of new crimes • Reducing nuisance crimes • Minimize use of ER for psychiatric reasons • MH and med compliance • Minimize negative impact of BHU defendants on public resources • Transit authority, local businesses by collaborating with MH agencies such as Positive Interactions • Reduction in court violation processing

  5. What is the Target Population of BHU Program • Defendants will be identified in 3 different areas. • Currently active defendants on District Court probation. • Post-disposition: • In-custody • Out of custody • Pre-Trial: • Process to be determined

  6. Referral Process • Currently on probation • Screened-accepted or denied. Resources provided for denials • In custody • Court ordered. BHU implements eligibility for screening process • Triggered by family, attorney, jail, MHP, JTS • Work with JTS to implement release plan • Out of custody • Court ordered. BHU implements eligibility for screening process • Triggered by family, attorney, LEO, self referral • Pre-Trial • To be determined. Next step is to meet with DAC/PA

  7. BHU Program • Intensive and comprehensive case management. • Supervision of court conditions including mental health conditions. • Monitoring mental health treatment compliance. • Monitoring medication compliance. • Identification of defendant’s needs. • Timely intervention response. • Utilize Creative and Targeted Alternative Sanctioning.

  8. BHU responsibilities • Conduit for the court • Work in concert with PO, LEO, Jail Transitions Specialist, Mental Health in the jail as well as in the community. • Revamp BHU process as needed • Adapt to changes out of our control • Addressing road blocks • Obtain court ordered evaluations • Obtain MH treatment documentation • Evaluate every month for first 6 months • Review procedures and protocols • Develop protocols • Analyze results

  9. Other Primary Goals of BHU • Education on their Diagnosis. • Understanding their medication, the side effects, and how to advocate for themselves appropriately. • Teaching the offender how to identify when they are starting to decompensate. • Assisting the offender with identifying their ‘triggers.’ • Helping the offender understand addiction and recovery process. • Assisting participant and family with setting up Mental Health Care Directives for times of decompensation. • . • Early detection and intervention when defendant starts to decompensate. • Understanding their medication, the side effects, and how to advocate for themselves appropriately. • Teaching the offender how to identify when they are starting to decompensate. • Assisting the offender with identifying their ‘triggers. • Helping the offender understand addiction and recovery process. • Providing these individuals with a community based, comprehensive, program that addresses their needs, assist them in utilizing their support systems they have in place.

  10. Resources needed to build BHU’s • Transportation for BHU defendants. • Monthly bus passes and Reduced Bus Fare Permit fees • Rechargeable phone cards for SafeLink phones • Basic Life Domain vouchers • Housing, shower, laundry vouchers • Kiosk to assist with financial resources

  11. Demographics and Quantitative Measures • Age • Gender • Diagnosis • Substance Abuse • Dependent vs. Abuse • Mental Health and Med Compliant • Probation Violation • Homelessness status • New Charges • Severity vs nuisance charges • Treatment service enrollment • Alc/D, MH, DV, AM, meds • Program enrollment • Food stamps, payee, RBFP, SSI, Insurance • Utilization of ER and emergency response teams

  12. BHU reporting process and Information Sharing BHU Officers will report to the court prior to court date of BHU defendant to relay mental health stability, mental health treatment compliance, and any other requested information that the court deems necessary. BHU will track demographics and chart success rates of BHU defendants. Initially, the program will be reviewed an analyzed monthly during first 6 months of program. BHU will also be responsible for building allies in the community. This limited information sharing is in efforts to provide early intervention to BHU defendants to reduce negative impact of decompensation.

  13. Benefits of BHU • Reduced Violation hearings • Defendants attending required treatment • Positive community involvement • Knowledge of positive support in the community • Information sharing

  14. Benefits of the BHUProgram • Participants will remain in the BHU for consistency in supervision, regardless of the nature of instant/new charge, as long as BHU criteria is met. • Every BHUparticipant is connected to community resources for mental health medications, housing, and other needed programs to help improve outcomes. If the medication is costly, the defendant is connected to a program to assist them with acquisition. For an individual with acute and chronic mental health issues can decompensate quickly if they run out of medication. • BHU will work diligently to connect probationer with required tx modalities that meet their needs. This effort will work towards decreasing violations for failures to appear and failures to comply.

  15. Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

  16. Any Questions- Feel free to ask!!

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