Building Justice and Behavioral Health Collaboration in

Beaver County, Pa

Mental Health and Justice Collaboration Conference

March 1, 2013

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Beaver County - Overview

Semi-rural county located in the southwestern region of the state about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

Diverse area with pockets of affluence, as well as very poor districts, urban, and rural areas, and varying economic resources.

The approximate population of Beaver County is 180,000– 23% of the population is under the age of 18.

5.0 % of that population lives in poverty.– 11% of the total population lives in poverty

The average annual wage for Beaver County was stated at $25,254, as compared to the average annual wage for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of $30,081.

The racial composition of Beaver County is predominantly Caucasian (92.5%), followed by African American (6%), and has not changed significantly in the past 20 years.

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Lessons Learned:

Building collaboration takes time – a long time and “timing” is everything

Personalities matter more than they should Behavioral Health has to demonstrate the value

it can add Do what makes sense for your community A nudge from funders can help greatly

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Former Beaver County Jail

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Current Beaver County Jail

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Moving toward a CJAB

Mental Health Task Force at the jail– Community behavioral health provider– Faith-based organization– Welfare– Education– Jail and Probation staff

Criminal Operations Committee– Judge – Warden – Commissioner – DA – Sherriff– Others as needed

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Behavioral Health Forensic Services

Jail-based COD treatment Reentry Liaison Sponsors Housing supports Seeking Safety – trauma informed care Thinking for change Outpatient in the courthouse Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Vocational services in the jail and community MHFA

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Funding Sources

BJA – encouraging collaboration and reentry services

OMHSAS – encouraging COD treatment PCCD – many initiatives and requiring a CJAB SAMHSA – encouraging COD treatment –

attention to homelessness and development of a countywide system of care

SFF – supporting COD and MHFA

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CJAB Members

Criminal Court Judge County Commissioner Court Administrator Clerk of Court BH Administrator District Attorney Public Defender Police Officer

Magistrate Victim Assistance Adult Probation Juvenile Probation State Parole Community Provider Sheriff Warden

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CJAB Representatives

•County Commissioners•Administrative Criminal Court Judge •Magisterial District Judge •District Attorney•Chief Public Defender•Deputy District Court Administrator•County and State Adult and Juvenile Probation•Warden of the County Jail •County Sheriff •Local law enforcement•911 Center

Community and Peer Representatives

•Victim’s Advocate•Family members•Community partners•Peers

Behavioral Health Representatives

•Behavioral Health Administrator •Behavioral health providers•Crisis providers

The task force is a subcommittee of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board

Members represent all major behavioral health and criminal justice partners

CJAB SIM Subcommittee

CJAB / Behavioral Health Collaborative Strategic Planning

Goal is to enhance the integration of the criminal justice and behavioral health systems for adults and juveniles in Beaver County

Involved a systems review and needs assessment, resulting in a strategic plan that:

– Increases public safety by facilitating collaboration among systems– Encourages early interventions and diversion opportunities for non-violent

individuals– Provides treatment options– Promotes training– Facilitates communication, collaboration, and the delivery of support services

Included cross-system trainings to increase collaboration and awareness Used the Sequential Intercept Model as the guiding framework

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Full Circle

Building collaboration takes time – a long time and “timing” is everything

Personalities matter more than they should Behavioral Health needs to demonstrate the

value it can add Do what makes sense for YOUR piece of the

world A nudge from funders can help greatly

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