The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60920

Colleen C Gillespie, PhD¹, Kim Hopper, PhD², Megan McDonald³, Ann-Marie Louison⁴, Anderson Bernier⁴, Karen Dubin⁴, Gricel Flores⁴, and Simone Talton⁴. (1) Center for Health and Public Service Research/Wagner, New York University, 726 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003, 2129987419, ccg2@nyu.edu, (2) Center for the Study of Issues in Public Mental Health, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962, (3) Anthropology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, (4) Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services, 346 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10013

The Nathaniel Project is an award-winning alternative to incarceration program for people with serious mental illness who are charged with felony offenses in New York City that is widely recognized as a model program. Understanding what makes this program “work” is critical to replicating its success.

This presentation reports on an in-depth and comprehensive exploration of the operating principles of the Nathaniel Project. Qualitative data were collected through interviews and focus groups with staff and key program participants including court staff (judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors), providers (housing and mental health), and the participants themselves, as well as through targeted observation and shadowing. Data collection focused on the nature and structure of the program; the roles, functions and characteristics of the staff; and the strategies and activities used to achieve program goals.

Core operating principles have emerged from analysis of this rich data. A major component of the Nathaniel Project is its focus on building and maintaining relationships by extending respect and engendering trust among all of its participants. Core strategies for serving the disparate goals of the criminal justice and mental health systems involve bridging and buffering as well as reframing and contextualing behavior. Accountability is a central underlying value – staff feel that they must always be there, demonstrating a commitment to the job that requires high tolerances for burn-out, work/life imbalance, job stress, frustration and ambiguity. Such commitment is possible because of the rewards that result from making the systems work for felony offenders with serious mental illness.

Learning Objectives:

Following this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe the critical elements of a successful Alternative to Incarceration program for people with serious mental illness;
• Identify the essential qualities of staff providing alternative to incarceration services;
• For purposes of program evaluation and development, determine the degree to which similar programs incorporate these key operating principles.

Keywords: Mental Health Services, Criminal Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.