Persons with Mental Illnesses

TMG sent an introductory email to Bucks County and followed up with a conference call to include Jessica Stroop, Callie Murray, and the Bucks County PREA Team.? Process and expectations were discussed as well as an explanation of what types of services TMG coaches could provide.? An initial follow-up call is scheduled for January 14, 2021 and then regularly scheduled monthly meetings are set.

During this reporting period the coaches held introductory meetings with Essex County Sheriff?'s Department. In the initial meeting, the coaches met Leah Harrington, the Grants Administrator, and other members of the grants team. Grantee expectations, coaching responsibilities, and a communications plan was discussed. The coaches also went over the implementation plan and time task plan.

During this reporting period the coaches initiated contact with the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (OCJC) to begin coaching activities and to introduce the implementation and time task plans. This grant is unique in that the OCJC is the recipient, but the grant activities will be completed by the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) and the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) as sub-recipients. Since the project deliverables are unique to each agency, the coaches advised ODOC and OYA to individually develop their implementation and time task plans.

During this reporting period, officials from the City of Richmond had their project kick-off call with their JDI coaches. The meeting took place on December 11, 2020 and was attended by six members of their team including PREA officials, the grants manager, the policy manager, and the budget manager. The site provided an overview of the agency?'s operations and current PREA-related needs, and learned about the coaches?' role and the implementation guide process.

During this reporting period, officials from the Puerto Rico Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DCR) had their project kick-off call with their JDI coaches. The meeting took place on December 10, 2020 and was attended by the PREA Coordinator and the Director of Federal Affairs. The site provided an overview of the agency?'s operations and current PREA-related needs, and learned about the coaches?' role and the implementation guide process.

During this reporting period the coaches initiated contact with The Carroll County Department of Corrections and began discussing the implementation guide. Initially the coaches had some difficulty determining the point of contact for Carroll County. As of December 18, a team has been created to plan and implement this grant. This team consists of a contracted consultant and high-level staff from the agency, including: a Lieutenant, a Major, a Case Manager, and the Superintendent.

During this reporting period, the coaches initiated contact with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to begin coaching activities. During the initial meeting in early December, the implementation guide and time task plan were introduced. Interim PREA Coordinator Leigha Weber is the main point of contact for this grant with Chris Hagan as support. Ms. Weber is very motivated and has wasted no time in developing the implementation and time task plans. Ms. Weber produces comprehensive drafts for the coaches to review with each iteration building on the feedback from the previous draft.

During this reporting period, the coaches initiated contact with The New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC) and began discussing the implementation guide. Dennis Fitton has been identified as the main point of contact for this grant. Mr. Fitton fills several different roles for NHDOC, which initially created concern among the coaches that he would not have sufficient time or authority to oversee the grant successfully. However, Mr. Fitton was able to procure a memo that granted him the authority to create a team, call meetings, and delegate tasks in support of the project goals.

CSG Justice Center staff hosted an orientation webinar for the new Purpose Area 1 JMHCP grantees. The webinar was held on December 15, 2020 to inform the grantee cohort about the purpose area requirements. Additionally, a current grantee, Miami-Dade County presented about their experience as a grant recipient and working with the CSG Justice Center.

Prosecutors across country are helping to set up programs that divert people with behavioral health needs from the justice system and into community-based treatment and support services. These programs have been shown to accelerate peoples' engagement with community-based treatment services, reduce collateral consequences of incarceration, and ensure criminal justice and behavioral health treatment resources are used in more efficient and effective ways. This webinar described some of the unique benefits of and challenges to developing these specialized diversion programs.