This paper presentation describes the results of a process study of two criminal justice court diversion programs for severely mentally ill and co-occurring mentally ill substance using individuals, developed in New York City. One program was designed through a year-long federally funded Community Action Grant according to a 9-Step Consensus-Building and Problem Solving Model, adapting best practices using "the community of knowledge" of multiple stakeholders from each of the systems that impact the target population for the planned intervention (advocates, family members, consumers, policy makers, criminal justice representatives, treatment providers, housing providers, social service agencies, medical providers). The second program was developed through a standard request for proposal process, with an advisory board assembled a month prior to implementation. Samples for the data collection included all key stakeholders who had any participation in each project (N=80), front-line staff from each system involved during the implementation phase (N=45) and the initial clients accepted for diversion by the programs (N=100). Additionally, these clients were matched to mentally ill criminal justice involved non-diverted clients who had previously been adjudicated in the same locations, but without the benefit of either programmatic or systems coordination; criminal justice, psychiatric, psychosocial, and service utilization data was compared. Results of analyses on data derived from surveys, focus groups, process notes, and standardized client outcome measures and collateral criminal justice information will be presented. Discussion will focus on the potential impact of these two approaches on systems and services coordination, program implementation and the clients served.
Learning Objectives: 1. A Model for consensus building and problem solving will be outlined. 2. Lessons learned regarding the benefits of differential approaches to public mental health program implementation.
Keywords: Community Collaboration, Criminal Justice
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.