EMPOWERING TEAMS TO CAUSE THRIVING MENTAL

HEALTH COURTSBy Christine O’Hanlon

Marin County Public Defender

YOU’RE THE ONE!

• Declare yourself “the One” means being the person who is willing to have a Mental Health Court. Being “the One” means giving up tolerating business as usual.

• Being “the One” does not mean you are the Lone Ranger.

• You can’t do it alone anyway because it takes your community to make a Mental Health Court.

STARTING BACKWARDS MOVES THINGS FORWARD!

• Start at the end with the up and running Mental Health Court.

• What roles do you need filled?– Judge– Service Providers-Case Managers– Coordinator– District Attorney– Defense Attorney– Probation Officer– Clients

Community Involvement

• Whose approval do you need in your community government to establish a Mental Health Court?

• Superior Court• Mental Health• District Attorney• Public Defender• Law Enforcement• Probation• Board of Supervisors/Mayor’s Office

COMMON INTERESTS EXERCISE

• 1. Introduce yourself to three people, and ask each person what interest do they have in establishing a Mental Health Court?

STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS

1. Increases Court Efficiency

2. Increases Offender Accountability

3. Reduces Recidivism & Arrest

4. Offenders Receive Effective & Informed Court Services

5. Builds Partnerships Among Stakeholders

6. Clients Receive Increased Support in the Community

STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS

• Reduces Jail Time• Demystifies Court• Encourages Independence• Support Getting Through Probation• Mental Health Expertise at Court’s Fingertips• Expedites Court Process• Better Outcome for Participants• Reduces Calls for Service from Law

Enforcement

STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS

• Improves Public Safety• Increases Awareness of Mental Illness• Increases Offender Cooperation with Law

Enforcement• Continuity of Care• Increases Client Motivation• Increase Treatment Compliance• Can Assist with Dual Diagnosis Treatment

STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS

• Increased Information Sharing• Expedites Investigations• Promotes Effective/Reasonable Probation

Orders and Supervision• Increased Monitoring of High Risk Offenders• Reduces Criminalization of Mentally Ill• Reduces Cost of Incarcerations• Reduces Involuntary Hospitalization

SHARED INTERESTS & WIN/WIN

• By focusing on shared interests and shared desired outcomes: – Moves project forward– Occurs like an opportunity for each stake

holder.– Creates understanding of interests so each

stake holder’s interested is addressed.

ACTION PLAN FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH COURT

• Working Backwards Moves Mental Health Courts Forward!

• Starting a MHC can take up to a year. Look at where you want to be in a year.

• Start from April 1, 2007 when your MHC is up and running.

MENTAL HEALTH COURT ACTION PLAN

• What needs to be accomplished between January 1, 2007-April 1, 2007.– Clients to be in the program– Government Approval– Superior Court Approval– MOU

Mental Health Court Action Plan Continued

• What needs to be accomplished from October 1, 2006-January 1, 2007– Presentation to Government Officials– Presentation to Superior Court– Presentation Prepared– Presentation Scheduled with Court &/or

Government Officials

MENTAL HEALTH COURT ACTION PLAN CONTINUED

• What needs to be accomplished between July 1, 2006-October 1, 2006?– Business Plan– Funding Requests– Grants

MENTAL HEALTH COURT ACTION PLAN

• What needs to be accomplished between April 1, 2006-July 1, 2006?– Identifying Funding Sources– Divide up Responsibilities– Team Meetings on Design of MHC– Visiting other established MHC– Research on established MHC– Establish your MHC Team

CREATING A SUPER TEAMEXERCISE

• Visualize your ideal state of the art Mental Health Court—your dream court. This is who makes up your MHC Team.– Make a list of names for your potential team members

from each discipline.– Develop a list of leads or people you will have

conversations with to be on the MHC Team.– Schedule times when you will actually have the

conversations about MHC Team.– Have the conversations and invite potential members

to join the MHC Team.– Schedule your first MHC Team Meeting!

GETTING TO YES IN THE FACE OF “NO!”

• You may hear, “NO,” several times before you hear one, “Yes.” KEEP TALKING!

THE “NO” NONSENSE EXERCISE

• Write down what it means to you when someone tells you “No” to a request you have made?– What do you think?– What do you say to yourself?– What do you do?

New Ways to Hear “No!”

• What could you say to yourself instead when you get a “No”?

• As a leader you don’t wait for everything to line up first before taking action. You take action and be “the One” who lines everything up!

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Christine O’Hanlon

• Marin County Public Defender

• 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 139

• San Rafael, CA 94903

• (415)499-7501

• cohanlon@co.marin.ca.us