COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PRESENTATION

[Audio] COMMUNITY mental health services PRESENTATION Course: CJA/436 Instructor: Christopher Abreu Name: Brandie Tarkington Saturday March 16 2024.

[Audio] Introduction Good morning everyone. Today I want to discuss strategies and initiatives for supporting justice-involved individuals in need of community mental health services as a result of mental health crisis mental illness disabilities or a traumatic incident. We will focus on identifying innovative strategies for negotiating with such individuals and providing ethical de-escalation techniques as well as evaluating community resources appropriate for this population..

[Audio] Trauma Factors to Consider in a Crisis Situation In our scenario we have a vulnerable individual who has been taken into custody as a result of worrying behaviors related to mental health issues and/or disabilities. It's important to consider the trauma involved in this situation as the individual may have experienced distressing interactions with law enforcement leading to increased anxiety and potential re-traumatization..

[Audio] Behaviors of an Individual Experiencing a Mental Health/Disability Crisis The individual in our scenario may exhibit behaviors such as heightened agitation confusion or withdrawal. It's crucial for first responders to recognize these signs and approach the individual with empathy and understanding..

[Audio] De-escalation Strategy/Initiative and Intention of Proposed Strategy/Initiative for De-escalation One innovative strategy for negotiating with such individuals is the Crisis Intervention Team (C-I-T--) model. This approach involves training law enforcement officers to effectively interact with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis emphasizing de-escalation techniques and diversion to appropriate mental health services. The intention of this strategy is to minimize the use of force and connect individuals with the help they need..

[Audio] Evaluation of Proposed Strategy/Initiative for Providing Services and Intention of Services In addition to the C-I-T model a valuable initiative for providing community mental health and/or disability services is the establishment of co-responder programs. These programs involve pairing law enforcement officers with mental health professionals to respond to crisis situations collaboratively. The intention is to provide immediate support and link individuals to ongoing mental health services..

[Audio] Recommended Community Mental Health and/or Disability Services and Benefits of Resources In Spokane WA I recommend resources such as Frontier Behavioral Health which offers crisis intervention services and ongoing mental health support. Additionally the Disability Action Center provides advocacy and resources for individuals with disabilities ensuring access to necessary accommodations and support services..

[Audio] Potential Outcomes and Limitations of Strategy/Initiative for Services While the C-I-T model and co-responder programs have shown promising outcomes in de-escalating crisis situations there are limitations to consider. For instance the availability of mental health resources in certain areas may impact the effectiveness of these strategies. Additionally the stigma surrounding mental illness can influence how individuals perceive law enforcement interactions..

[Audio] Recommendations for More Effective Use of Strategy/Initiative To enhance the effectiveness of these strategies in Spokane WA it's essential to foster strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies and mental health service providers. This collaboration can ensure a seamless continuum of care for justice-involved individuals from crisis intervention to long-term support..

[Audio] Conclusion/References In conclusion by implementing innovative strategies such as the C-I-T model co-responder programs and collaborating with community mental health resources we can better support justice-involved individuals with mental health issues and disabilities. These efforts aim to promote safety reduce recidivism and facilitate access to vital mental health services..