Recognition of the significance and prevalence of trauma issues for individuals in the criminal justice system is growing and systems are responding by becoming trauma-informed. In Trauma Services in Criminal Justice Settings: What, Why & How, Joan Gillece, Ph.D. presented information on what trauma is and how it can affect those involved in the criminal justice system. Flo Hepola, a mental health clinician, addressed the challenges to providing trauma services in the criminal justice setting and ways practitioners can address these challenges. The webinar concluded with a question-and-answer session with the presenters.

The second part of Working with Data for Mental Health Court Practitioners presented perspectives on data analysis, including considerations for doing cost-benefit analyses and offer suggestions for generating data-based communications for internal and external audiences. Andrew Barbee, senior research associate at the CSG Justice Center, presented different types of data analysis and offered suggestions for how to use analysis for program management and research. Cynthea Kimmelman-DeVries, director of administrative services at the Bronx Mental Health Court (N.Y.), one of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Mental Health Court Learning Sites, discussed developing data-based communications for different audiences.

This webinar provided practitioners with an orientation to data collection in mental health courts and offered concrete skills for working with data in Microsoft Excel. The webinar featured perspectives on collecting data from Cynthea Kimmelman, director of administrative services at the Bronx Mental Health Court (NY), one of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Mental Health Court Learning Sites. Andrew Barbee, senior research associate at the CSG Justice Center, demonstrated basic Excel features that facilitate data collection and analysis. This portion of the presentation included step-by-step instructions on how to best use selected features in Microsoft Excel 2003 (Excel 2007 analogs will be mentioned). The webinar concluded with a question-and-answer session with Ms. Kimmelman and Mr. Barbee, as well as Hallie Fader-Towe, policy analyst, CSG Justice Center, who provided perspectives on the issue of data collection among mental health courts nationwide.

This webinar provided an overview of the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program and the current FY2010 solicitation for potential applicants. Bureau of Justice Assistance staff discussed program eligibility, the required application materials, and other important information and resources.

On December 16th, Lourdes Rosado provided strategies to improve outcomes for youth and reduce their deeper involvement into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

In a webinar on November 18th, Dr. Jennifer Skeem provided an overview of how criminogenic risk factors contribute to the involvement of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system.

The webinar, held on October 29th, described an innovative program to ensure that eligible individuals have access to Medicaid on their release date or soon after, including evaluation data documenting the program's effects. Bob Mann, from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, detailed components of the program, which involved extensive collaboration among the state's corrections, mental health, and Medicaid agencies. Dr. Henry Ireys, of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., presented results of an evaluation of the impact of the program on Medicaid enrollment, service use, and other outcomes. Seth Prins, from the Council of State Governments Justice Center, highlighted the Justice Center’s federal benefits tools. Finally, there was a question and answer session with the presenters.

Click here to download or listen to the webinar.

Click here to download the slides

To access the Keys to Federal Benefits Access, click here.

To access the Federal Benefits Chart, click here.

Presented by Dr. Thomas Grisso, this webinar described the purpose, process, and implementation of mental health screening for youth entering juvenile justice settings. Audio and slides available.

This webinar explored why the rights due to victims in traditional criminal court proceedings are not always made available to individuals who are victimized by people accepted into mental health courts. Panelists suggested practical solutions for improving victims' rights policies and highlighted recommendations from the Justice Center publication, Guide to the Role of Crime Victims in Mental Health Courts, developed with support from the Office for Victims of Crime. Panelists also outlined strategies for involving victims at various points in the mental health court process without compromising adherence to medical privacy mandates and principles.

Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Webinar Series: HIPAA: Myths, Facts, and Cross-systems Collaboration by John Petrila (March 23, 2009). Click here for the PowerPoint presentation from this webinar. For further inquiries about this webinar or the webinar series, please contact Elizabeth Meyer at emeyer@csg.org.