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The Perils, Pitfalls and Progress of starting a Mental Health Court

The Perils, Pitfalls and Progress of starting a Mental Health Court. Steven M. Mays Clinical Liaison Genesee Health System . The Why’s and How’s. How? Get Help Recognize strengths and weaknesses in your community (be honest/realistic) Gather like minded leaders

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The Perils, Pitfalls and Progress of starting a Mental Health Court

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  1. The Perils, Pitfalls and Progress of starting a Mental Health Court Steven M. Mays Clinical Liaison Genesee Health System

  2. The Why’s and How’s • How? • Get Help • Recognize strengths and weaknesses in your community • (be honest/realistic) • Gather like minded leaders • (build relationships) • Stop talking…Start doing! • Why? • Need a new approach to the revolving door (recidivism) • Pre Booking, Post Booking and Post Release • There’s got to be a better way…

  3. The Nuts and Bolts of the Process • Decide on the participants you are willing to take • Referral Process: make it as easy as you can • Streamline the system…make the liaison (boundary spanner) the face and go to person

  4. The Way We Do Business • Getting accepted in to Mental Health Court • Weekly meetings with the treatment team • Weekly meetings with Judge Barkey • Weekly review hearings with participants • Numbers

  5. Rewards and Sanctions • Judges Scorn • Increased frequency • Jail • Judges Praise • Fishbowl • (other incentives) • Graduations

  6. Perils, Pitfalls and Progress What to look for on your journey

  7. PERILS • Realizing the scope of the endeavor and getting through the initial shock (Journey) • Getting like minded leaders to the table that can affect serious and immediate change • Being scared to fail (build it…they will come) • Getting to know other systems and tossing out preconceived notions

  8. PITFALLS • Naysayers will always be there to impede your progress • Don’t get bogged down in the details • Don’t be afraid to expect excellence…people with common goals want it too • Keeping the goal in sight

  9. Progress • Take stock in yourself and the mission at hand…celebrate the little victories • Meeting short term goals leads to bigger and better things…Success breeds referrals • Success isn’t always a graduation • Stay optimistic

  10. IN CONCLUSION… • Remember why we are doing this. At the heart of this endeavor is the recognition that we need to be more cognizant of how the mentally ill are treated in the criminal justice system. Shepherding these folks to the appropriate services is not only the right thing to do, but it makes good financial sense and will help with jail overcrowding. A little compassion and preparation now could very well save others lives in the future.

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