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Forensic Interagency Task Force Updates

Forensic Interagency Task Force Updates. Presented by: Chris Wysocki , Administrator Juniata Valley Behavioral and Developmental Services Tory Bright, Director, SE Regional MH Services Coordination Office FITF Reentry Committee Co-Chairs. Forensic Interagency Task Force (FITF)- Who are We?.

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Forensic Interagency Task Force Updates

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  1. Forensic Interagency Task Force Updates Presented by: Chris Wysocki, Administrator Juniata Valley Behavioral and Developmental Services Tory Bright, Director, SE Regional MH Services Coordination Office FITF Reentry Committee Co-Chairs

  2. Forensic Interagency Task Force (FITF)- Who are We? • Meeting since 1996 as a collective group • Advocacy Stakeholders • Criminal Justice Stakeholders • Includes State and County corrections, Probation and Parole, etc. • Mental Health Stakeholders • Includes OMHSAS, County MH, D&A, providers, forensic services, etc.

  3. Purpose? • To divert people from the criminal justice system whenever possible • To ensure timely and appropriate assessment and treatment for people who are incarcerated • To provide comprehensive planning and support services to people returning from incarceration to ensure successful return to their community, prevent recidivism and promote public safety

  4. How? • Bi-Monthly meetings (approx 30-40 attendees) • Multi-stakeholder representation • Topic specific discussions with guest speakers • Key issues focused on sharing information: • Impact cross-systems • Forensic population • Identify gaps, opportunities, and promising practices across all systems • Identify and update on new/current initiatives, services, and funding strategies, etc.

  5. PA Department of Corrections: Changes / Impacts – 2013 to present • Department of Justice investigation of use of Solitary Confinement of Mentally Ill inmates in PA – Department of Corrections (DOC) • Changes within the DOC – identification, treatment and training • Changes to the numbers of inmates who are identified as having mental illness. • Increases in the Mental Health Roster

  6. Established the “Reentry Committee” of the FITF • Identified as top priority to address for several years • Collaborative partnership with DOC, Counties, OMHSAS, and PBPP, others • Development of Committees – tri-chairs: County MH Admin, DOC Superintendent, Regional MH Forensic Services • Purpose: “to promote the effective and expedient release and reentry of persons with serious mental illness”.

  7. Reentry Survey • Multi-stakeholder – Counties, DOC, PBPP, Providers, Advocates, etc • 200+ Respondents • Gaps and promising practices • Common Themes revealed • 4 major areas to address

  8. Common Themes and Areas to Address (prioritization of issues) • Housing (62%) • Clinical challenges of reentry population (25%), • Benefits and Entitlements (18%), • Communication/documentation practices (18%)

  9. Subcommittees & task • Documentation and Communication • Benefit / Entitlement • Housing The 3 committees met for last 10 months and have compiled recommendations for FITF to consider for activities for 2017

  10. Reentry Committee Summary and recommendations • Reentry Committee Summary document, 11/2016 • Presentation to FITF of recommendations – 11/2016 meeting • Cross systems / stakeholder recommendations • Next Steps for 2017…

  11. THANK YOU!!!! • For more information, contact: • Chris Wysocki, Co-chair Reentry Committee cwysocki@jvbds.org • Tory Bright, Co-Chair Reentry Committee, regional.mh@pmhcc.org

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