Mental health advocates are increasingly teaming up with representatives from the criminal justice and mental health system to offer a unified voice on the need to improve mental health services and address the problem of mental illness in the criminal justice system. These broad-based coalitions can add significant power to advocates' efforts.
Example: Howie T. Harp Advocacy Center (New York)
In 2000, at the request of the New York State Department of Corrections, the Howie T. Harp Advocacy Center launched the STARR program (Steps To A Renewed Reality), which offers employment training and placement assistance to individuals with mental illness who have criminal histories. Howie T. Harp is operated entirely by individuals with mental illness, and half of the participants in the STARR Program receive training to become peer specialists.
Example: Florida Partners in Crisis
Florida Partners in Crisis (PIC) brings together advocates, consumers of mental health services, judges, law enforcement and corrections officers, prosecutors and public defenders, service providers, hospital administrators, and family members to advocate for increased funding and resources for the community mental health and substance abuse treatment systems, and to promote specific policy issues related to this population. One of the motivating forces behind its creation was the growing concern of criminal justice professionals about the overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system. PIC leaders have met with the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President.
Proceed to: "Step 5: Leverage Resources"
ABOUT
