|
Recommendations for Implementation
|
a.
|
|
Capitalize on existing networks of
advocacy groups to publicize program results
|
| |
By tapping its national network, an advocacy group, such
as a local Mental Health Association or affiliate of NAMI (Alliance for the
Mentally Ill), can be extraordinarily effective in spreading the word about a
new and promising initiative.
Example:
Crisis Intervention Team, Memphis (TN)
The Memphis CIT was established as a result of a
collaborative effort among the Memphis Police Department and various leaders in
the community, including members of the NAMI.
Training is an important component of the CIT initiative, and NAMI
members play a key role in administering the training program for police
officers. NAMI hosts an annual awards
dinner for officers serving on the CIT and has also been helpful in trumpeting
the results that Professor Randolph Dupont has documented: the response time
for a CIT officer on a crisis call averages 5 to 10 minutes, as compared with
other models where police take 30 to 50 minutes. NAMI's promotion of these and other data at its conventions and
on its website has facilitated replication of the CIT model in communities
across the country.
|
b.
|
|
Advertise
positive program results in local media outlets.
|
| |
When the results of an evaluation confirm the value of a
new initiative, policymakers and practitioners should publicize the data. In this regard, press kits that briefly
highlight the findings and provide contact information for program
spokespersons can be extremely effective.
It is important to identify spokespersons who the media or
the public might not immediately associate with the issue. For example, a mental health advocate or
provider might be expected to talk about the value of en effective
community-based mental health program.
On the other hand, law enforcement officials, corrections
administrators, or other criminal justice practitioners who explain how
effective mental health services have improved public safety can be
particularly compelling.
Example:
Trauma, Addictions Mental Health and
Recovery (TAMAR) Program (MD)
Preliminary research regarding rearrest rates
among women participating in TAMAR has been impressive. Wardens and other correctional
administrators of facilities in county jails where the TAMAR program has been
established have made presentations for county commissioners and state
legislators citing these data to help explain the value of the initiative. Elected officials have responded by
promoting the replication of the program and publicizing its value to the state
and counties in public hearings.
Example:
Partners in Crisis (FL)
Linda Gregory, the widow of a deputy sheriff shot
and killed by Alan Singletary (a person with a history of untreated mental
illness) and Alice Petree, Alan Singletary's
sister, are members of Partners in Crisis, a coalition of leaders in the
criminal justice and mental health system in Florida. Partners in Crisis conducted public service announcements across
Florida featuring Ms. Gregory and Ms. Petree who explained the value of access
to effective mental health services.
|
c.
|
|
Create clearinghouses at the state and local level that provide information
regarding the availability of services people with mental illness coming into contact
with the criminal justice system.
|
| |
Clearinghouses can help to advertise new initiatives that
are promising and spread the word about valuable lessons learned in other
communities.
Example:
Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments
The Texas Council on Offenders with Mental
Impairments is statutorily responsible for providing technical assistance and
information to local and state criminal justice entities regarding alternatives
to incarceration for those with special needs.
The council comprises individuals from throughout the state who
represent every facet of local and state criminal justice systems. These board members are responsible for
collecting information from the field and bringing it to the council for review
and response.
Establishing for one jurisdiction an organization that
will serve as a clearinghouse around criminal justice and mental health issues
exclusively may be unrealistic, but adding this function to an existing entity
is often feasible. For example, the
mental health agency funding community programs or an entity or person
reporting to the court (e.g., pretrial services, probation, mental health court
staff) regarding the availability of community-based services could become a
locus of information.
|