County of Santa Clara Office of Reentry Services Hosts Stepping Up Day of Action Events for Mental Health, May 22
National initiative seeks to decrease the population of adults with mental and co-occurring substance use disorders in jails
WHAT:
Approximately two million admissions to jail every year in the U.S. involve people with serious mental illnesses. The County of Santa Clara Office of Reentry Services, County agencies and community partners are hosting a series of presentations and panel discussions to address challenges and share strategies to reduce the number of adults with mental and co-occurring substance use disorders in jail. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions in a safe and friendly environment.
WHO:
Representatives from County departments and community organizations working with behavioral health crisis intervention, suicide prevention, involuntary psychiatric holds, Mental Health and Drug Treatment Court, behavioral health services in custody, peer respite services and a new residential adult behavioral health treatment program.
Members of the public interested in these topics are encouraged to attend.
Space is limited. RSVP to Lynn Madden: [email protected] or (408) 535-4277.
WHEN AND WHERE:
May 22, 2019, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
County of Santa Clara Reentry Resource Center
151 West Mission Street, San Jose, CA 95110
WHY:
In 2016 the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors approved jail diversion programming and participation in the Stepping Up Initiative, an initiative that provides counties with tools to develop cross-systems and data-driven strategies that can lead to reductions in the number of people with mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders in jails.
About the County of Santa Clara, California
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, the sixth largest county in California. With a $7 billion budget, more than 70 agencies/departments and 20,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, offers quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services including public health and environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, parks, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need.
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Stepping Up Day of Action Sessions
May 22, 2019
9:30 am -11:30 am: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), 5150 Holds and Suicide Prevention
Kathryn Parlet, LMFT, LPCC County of Santa Clara Crisis Intervention Team
Megan Wheelehan JD and Ryan Spengler, Mental Health Advocacy Project
Evelyn Quintanilla, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services
County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department representatives explain how law enforcement is trained to recognize and effectively interact with individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges to decrease the incarceration rate of people living with mental illnesses. Presenters will also discuss the County’s suicide prevention and crisis services as well as 5150 holds, which allow for at-risk individuals with mental health disorders to be held in psychiatric facilities for up to 72 hours.
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm: In Our Own Voice: A Presentation by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Santa Clara
NAMI presenters will share their stories about living with mental illness and staying in recovery. This presentation can change attitudes, preconceived notions and stereotypes. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions in a safe and friendly environment.
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: County Stakeholder Panel: What is the County doing to address mental illness in our community?
Six panelists will share four County programs that support individuals living with mental illness:
- Superior Court Judge Stephen Manley, from the Mental Health Treatment Court and Drug Treatment Court, explains how clients and the community benefit from these courts.
- Nathaniel Woods, Director, Custody Behavioral Health Services, discusses the impact of isolation on the severely mentally ill, trauma and gender-responsive treatment and access to care with community partners once clients are released from custody.
- Lauren Grey, Director of Mental Health Services for Family & Children Services (FCS), which operates Blackbird House, a peer respite home for adults experiencing or at risk of a mental health crisis, and Bobbi Gutierrez, Lead Peer Support Worker at Blackbird House, discuss how the home supports clients.
- Scott Madover, Ph.D., Director, Substance Use Treatment Services, Telecare Corp. and Carolyn Rapier, MFT, Administrator, Muriel Wright Recovery Center, discuss the new Muriel Wright Center, a residential adult behavioral health treatment program.
ABOUT THE STEPPING UP INITIATIVE
The National Association of Counties (NACo), the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and The Council of State Governments Justice Center launched the Stepping Up initiative in May 2015. Stepping Up is a national movement to provide counties with tools to develop cross-systems, data-driven strategies that can lead to reductions in the number of people with mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders in jails.
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Media Contact: Lynn Madden, Office of Reentry Services, (408) 535-4277; Laurel Anderson/Marina Hinestrosa, Office of Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119.