Northampton County - Pennsylvania Mental Health and ...pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/documents/cross_systems/Northampton... · Northampton County is located in Pennsylvania's Lehigh

D R E X E L U N I V E R S I T Y &

U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H

Northampton County Report of the Cross-Systems Mapping Workshop

June 25th and 26th, 2013

Transforming Services for Persons with Mental Illness in Contact with the Criminal Justice System

Northampton County, PA Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence Report, June 2013

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Facilitator

Patricia A. Griffin, PhD, Center of Excellence Senior Consultant

Other Support

Sarah Filone, MA, Project Coordinator - PA Center of Excellence Katy Winckworth-Prejsnar, Research Coordinator - PA Center of

Excellence

Center of Excellence Staff

David DeMatteo, JD, PhD Sarah Filone, MA

Patricia Griffin, PhD Kirk Heilbrun, PhD Casey LaDuke, MS

Edward P. Mulvey, PhD Carol Schubert, MPH Amanda Cross, PhD

Katy Winckworth-Prejsnar, BA


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Table of Contents

Transforming Services for Persons with Mental Illness in Contact With the Criminal Justice System

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Background ...................................................................................................................................... 5

About the Workshop ......................................................................................................................... 6

Objectives of the Cross-Systems Mapping Exercise ....................................................................... 6

Keys to Success ............................................................................................................................... 7

Northampton County, Pennsylvania Cross Systems Mapping

Northampton County Cross Systems Map....................................................................................... 8

Northampton County Cross Systems Narrative ............................................................................. 10

Intercept I: Law Enforcement / Emergency Services ........................................................ 12

Intercept II: Initial Detention / Initial Court Hearing ........................................................... 18

Intercept III: Jails / Courts ................................................................................................. 21

Intercept IV: Re-Entry........................................................................................................ 26

Intercept V: Community Corrections / Community Support .............................................. 29

Northampton County Action Planning

Northampton County Priorities ....................................................................................................... 42

Northampton County Action Plan ................................................................................................... 43

Conclusions and Summary

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 51

Closing ........................................................................................................................................... 51


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List of Appendices

Appendix A – Participant List ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.


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Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Transforming Services for Persons with Mental Illness in Contact with the Criminal Justice System

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence Cross-Systems Mapping workshop held in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, on June 25th and 26th, conducted at the Northampton County Court House at 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042. Northampton County Mental Health hosted the workshop as part of an ongoing process of developing collaborative systems of support for individuals who have mental illness and who come in contact with criminal justice. This report (and accompanying electronic file) includes: A brief review of the origins and background for the workshop; A summary of the information gathered at the workshop; A cross-systems intercept map as developed by the group during the workshop; A description of each intercept along with identified gaps and opportunities; An action planning matrix as developed by the group; and Observations, comments, and recommendations to help Northampton County achieve its

goals.

Background

Northampton County Mental Health and multiple other stakeholders requested the Center of Excellence Cross-Systems Mapping workshop to promote progress in addressing criminal justice diversion and treatment needs of adults with mental illness in contact with the criminal justice system. As part of the workshop, they were requested to provide assistance to Northampton County with: Creation of a map indicating points of interface among all relevant Northampton County

systems; Identification of resources, gaps, and barriers in the existing systems; and Development of priorities to promote progress in addressing the criminal justice diversion

and treatment needs of adults with mental illness in contact with the criminal justice system. Prior to the workshops, the Center of Excellence gathered information about Northampton County through a Community Collaboration Questionnaire and gathering of documents relevant to the population. The participants in the workshops included 28 individuals representing multiple stakeholder systems including mental health, substance abuse treatment, human services, corrections, advocates, family members, peer specialists, and law enforcement. A complete list of participants is available in Appendix A (pg. 52) of this document. Patricia A. Griffin, PhD, facilitated the workshop sessions. Sarah Filone, MA, and Katy Winckworth-Prejsnar also provided support.


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About the Workshop

Upon receiving a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in late 2009, the Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence was developed as a collaborative effort by Drexel University and the University of Pittsburgh. The mission of the Center of Excellence is to work with Pennsylvania communities to identify points of interception at which action can be taken to prevent individuals with mental illness from entering and penetrating deeper into the justice system. The Center of Excellence workshops, Cross-System Mapping and Taking Action for Change, are unique services tailored to each Pennsylvania community. These workshops provide an opportunity for participants to visualize how mental health, substance abuse, and other human services intersect with the criminal justice system.

This workshop is unlike other types of consultations or staff development training programs. A key element is the collaborative process. Meaningful cross-system collaboration is required to establish effective and efficient services for people with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders involved in the criminal justice system. This makes the composition of the group extremely important. While some workshops involve advertising to the entire provider community, it is essential in the Cross-System Mapping workshops that the organizers gather a group that represents key decision makers and varied levels of staff from the relevant provider systems. Center of Excellence staff work with this group, serving as expert guides to help:

Create a cross-systems map indicating points of interface among all relevant local systems; Identify gaps, opportunities, and barriers in the existing systems; Optimize use of local resources; Identify and prioritize necessary actions for change; and Develop an action plan to facilitate this change. Upon completion of the workshops, the Cross-Systems Map included in the report is provided in an electronic format. It is meant to be a starting point. The electronic files can be revised over time to reflect the accomplishments and changes in the planning process.

Objectives of the Cross-Systems Mapping Exercise

The Cross-Systems Mapping Exercise has three primary objectives: 1. Development of a comprehensive picture of how people with mental illness and co-occurring

substance use disorders move through the Northampton County criminal justice system along five distinct intercept points: Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, Initial Detention/Initial Court Hearings, Jails and Courts, Re-entry, and Community Corrections/Community Support.

2. Identification of gaps, resources, and opportunities at each intercept for individuals in the

target population. 3. Development of priorities for activities designed to improve system and service level

responses for individuals in the target population.


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Keys to Success

Existing Cross-Systems Partnerships Northampton County’s history of collaboration between the criminal justice and behavioral health systems is reflected in a number of existing local efforts that were identified prior to the mapping. For example:

Northampton County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB)

Forensic Advocacy Collaboration Team (FACT) Team

Re-entry Coalition

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training

Certified Forensic Peer Specialist

Adult Forensic Transition Worker Consumer/Family Involvement in the Workshops Consumers were represented by Danny Estrella, a Certified Peer Specialist; Amber Karom,

a Certified Peer Specialist with Recovery Partnership; and Donna Keutmann, peer services

director for Recovery Partnership. Danny, Amber, and Donna added valuable information to

the discussion, particularly with respect to the action plan concerning Certified Peer

Specialists in the jail.

John Pearce and Celie Walton from NAMI provided a helpful family member perspective.

Representation from Key Decision Makers in the Workshops The workshop included wide cross-system representation and involved many of the key

decision makers. Opening remarks by Lt. Darlene Coia from the Northampton County Sheriffs Department set the stage and established a clear message as to the importance of the workshop. Wendy Heatley, Deputy Mental Health Administrator for Northampton County Mental Health welcomed participants and introduced the facilitators.

Data Collection In addition to the information gained during the workshop, the information in this report was

developed from conversations with and questionnaires completed by key stakeholders in Northampton County in preparation for the workshop.


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Northampton County Cross Systems Map

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Northampton County Cross Systems Narrative

The Cross-Systems Mapping exercise is based on the Sequential Intercept Model developed by Mark Munetz, M.D. and Patty Griffin, Ph.D.,1 in conjunction with the National GAINS Center. In this workshop, participants were guided to identify gaps in services, resources, and opportunities at each of the five distinct intercept points. This narrative reflects information gathered during the Cross-Systems Mapping Workshop. It provides a description of local activities at each intercept point, as well as gaps and opportunities identified at each point. This narrative may be used as a reference in reviewing the Northampton County Cross-Systems Map. The cross-systems local task force may choose to revise or expand information gathered in the activity. The gaps and opportunities identified in this report are the result of “brain storming” during the workshop and include a broad range of input from workshop participants. These points reflect a variety of stakeholder opinions and are, therefore, subjective rather than a majority consensus. General Description of Services and Cross-System Collaboration Northampton County was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County with the county seat of Easton. Its namesake was Northamptonshire and the country house, Easton Neston. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton County was 297,735.

Northampton County is located in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Its northern edge borders the Poconos. The eastern section of the county borders the Delaware River, which divides Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is bordered on the west by Lehigh County.

The county is industrially-oriented, producing anthracite coal, cement, and other industrial products. Bethlehem Steel, once one of the world's largest manufacturers of steel, was located there prior to its closing in 2003.

The County has been building a continuum of criminal justice and behavioral health services that provides a basic foundation for continued growth and reorganization on all levels. There are a number of established links, both formal and informal, between the courts, probation, police departments, corrections and the mental health system that include but not limited to:

Northampton County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB)

Forensic Advocacy Collaboration Team (FACT) Team

Re-entry Coalition

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

Certified Forensic Peer Specialist

Adult Forensic Transition Worker

Northampton County Mental Health, Early Intervention And Developmental Programs Division provides a wide variety of behavioral health services to county residents, including: administrative case management, community residential services, day treatment, out-patient psychiatric evaluation, out-patient medication provision, out-patient therapy, intensive case management, resource coordination case management, assertive community treatment teams,

1 Munetz, M. & Griffin, P. (2006). A systemic approach to the de-criminalization of people with serious

mental illness: The Sequential Intercept Model. Psychiatric Services, 57, 544-549.

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vocational rehabilitation, respite care, supported living/housing, supported employment, crisis intervention, and in-patient services. Hours of operation are 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday-Friday. Northampton County provides an extensive and detailed network of care website for individuals, families and agencies concerned with behavioral health. Information about behavioral health services, laws, and related news, as well as communication tools and other features are available at:

http://northampton.pa.networkofcare.org/mh/

http://northampton.pa.networkofcare.org/mh/

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Intercept I: Law Enforcement / Emergency Services

911

Northampton County. Emergency Management is located in the same facility as the 911 Operations at 100 Gracedale Ave in the Upper Nazareth Complex. Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is 610-759-2600; fax number is 610-759-2172. For emergencies after normal hours of operation, residents are requested to call the 911 Center. The non-emergency number is 610-759-2200

Emergency Services is responsible for the planning, coordinating, and operation of Emergency Management activities in Northampton County, as well as to maintain liaison with State and Federal Authorities and the authorities of nearby political subdivisions to insure the most effective operation of the emergency management plans.

Emergency Management has been a partner to the county’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) initiative and sits on the CIT Advisory Board. Several Emergency Management staff members have completed the CIT training.

Law Enforcement

Northampton County has 25 police jurisdictions, 2 State Police barracks, and a Sheriff’s Department. The Bethlehem Police Department is the largest police force in the county, followed by the Easton Police Department.

The County of Northampton has the only appointed Sheriff in the 67 counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Sheriff Miller retired from the Bethlehem Police department in December 2009 and was appointed to the position of Sheriff by County Executive John Stoffa, and confirmed by Northampton County Council.

The Sheriff’s Department Criminal Division is led by a lieutenant, with two field sergeants as direct supervisors, one working a day shift and the other a middle shift. This division performs the following tasks: Locates and apprehends wanted individuals Confirms wanted persons’ identities by extracting information from JNET, CPIN,

PennDot, JMS, Adult Probation and local police reports Creates accurate entries for submission to NCIC for wanted criminals, juvenile

delinquents and dependents, forwarding this information and hard copy of the warrant to the 911 Center

Cancels NCIC entries upon apprehension or withdrawal Updates CPCMS Confirms wanted person entries as per Pennsylvania State Police guidelines Extracts criminal history information for:

1. District Attorney’s Office

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2. Arraignments 3. Sentencing 4. Coroner’s Office 5. Decedents 6. Housing Authority 7. Prospective Tenants 8. Provides security for home visits for:

Adult Probation Children, Youth and Families

Provides transportation for wanted individuals: o From local police departments to the Northampton County Jail o Juvenile delinquents to the Northampton County Juvenile Detention Center

or other facility. o Juvenile dependents to county or out-of-county facilities. o Juvenile delinquents/dependents from secured facilities to court and back. o Assists the U.S. Marshal Service in serving criminal warrants in the

jurisdiction. o Assists the Easton Police Department with their Weed-and-Seed warrant

apprehension program. o Assists the Bethlehem and Easton Police Departments with their saturation

patrol programs. o Assists the Northampton County Detectives with extradition transports.

State Police

The Pennsylvania State Police was created by an act of the legislation, signed into law by Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker on May 2, 1905. It was the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the United States. The Pennsylvania State Police has jurisdiction in all political subdivisions in the Commonwealth.

Northampton County is served by State Police Troop M – Bethlehem that additionally covers the counties of Lehigh and Bucks. State Police Troop M covers approximately 1323.4 square miles, a total population of 1,201,297, and employs 263 enlisted and civilian personnel. Northampton County houses the Bethlehem and Belfast State Police Barracks.

Northampton County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training

CIT programs are local initiatives designed to improve the way law enforcement and other agencies respond to people experiencing mental health crises. They are built on strong partnerships between law enforcement, mental health provider agencies and individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Northampton County began their CIT initiative with funding from a Gaming Revenue and Economic Redevelopment Authority grant and held the first meeting of their CIT Advisory Board in December of 2011. The first 3 hour training was held in April, 2012 as part of the monthly Police Chief’s Meeting at Emergency Management. Since then, there have been eight 6-hour training sessions, one 5-day (40 hour) training, and one condensed 4-hour training during which the entire Sheriff’s Department was trained.

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Twenty-eight individuals graduated from the full 40 hour training, including participants from the Bethlehem Police Department, Northampton County Jail, Northampton County Mental Health, and several other local police jurisdictions. The five-day curriculum included modules on:

The Mental Health Procedures Act Crisis de-escalation NAMI family member perspective Forensic Peer Support Consumer perspective (peer panel) Officer safety and de-escalation from a law enforcement standpoint Military veterans panel Developmental programs (formerly MR) Behavioral health in older adults, Domestic violence Role plays Hearing Distressing Voices exercise Suicide prevention Self-care Critical incident stress management (CISM) Co-occurring disorders (including a special consideration for problem gambling due to

the local casino) Plans for the next CIT training include an additional module on Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and expansion of the law enforcement perspective provided by the Lehigh Township Chief of Police. Crisis Services The Northampton County crisis unit is located at 45 North Second Street, Easton, PA 18042. Crisis Intervention services are available 24 hours a day by calling 610-252-9060. Services include telephone counseling, mobile crisis, walk-in crisis, and assistance in accessing inpatient care and short-term crisis residential services. During regular business hours, crisis has employs a staff of 5 individuals. After hours, there is a mobile crisis team (2 crisis workers), a mental health delegate on call, and a crisis worker in the office. Mobile crisis services are provided 7 days a week from 8 AM to Midnight. From Midnight to 8, mobile crisis can dispatch to hospitals only. Medical mobile crisis services are also available in Northampton County. Crisis Residences Hope House 3606 Hecktown Road Bethlehem, PA 18020 Phone: 610-882-2008

Robbins Bower 910 E. Emmaus Avenue Allentown , PA 18103 Phone: 610-791-7878

These programs provide short-term residential services for individuals in psychiatric crisis, offering a safe and supportive environment for people who temporarily need assistance until they stabilize or until other arrangements can be made. The programs are licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Two or more trained staff members are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The maximum capacity in each facility is eight persons with a length of stay

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for up to five days. The County Program may authorize additional time when warranted. Staff members focus on assisting consumers to resolve their immediate crises and to mobilize support systems and ongoing treatment in the community. Crisis Lines Northampton Crisis - 610-252-9060 Drug and Alcohol Emergency Line: 610-252-9060

Warm Line

PEER LINE: 1-855-PA-PEERS (727-3377) The PEER LINE is a toll-free phone number for

people in Northampton County who are seeking a listening ear for additional support in their recovery from mental illness. The PEER LINE is peer-run and peer-friendly. Callers to the PEER LINE will speak directly to other individuals who have experienced the mental health recovery process. Hours of operation: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday

Hospitals Northampton County houses two Emergency Rooms located at Easton Hospital and Saint Luke’s Anderson Hospital. Saint Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem houses an inpatient unit staffed with a team of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and other mental health experts. In addition, Saint Luke’s provides an Older Adult Behavioral Health Unit which treats adults 60 years of age and over in a setting created to address the unique behavioral health needs of older adults. The unit is staffed by an interdisciplinary treatment team, which includes: a psychiatrist with special training in treating geriatric patients, nurses, mental health technicians, case managers, and activity therapists. Extended Acute Care Northampton County residents that require long term psychiatric treatment have access to two Extended Acute Care (EAC) programs. Sacred Heart Hospital offers a 19-bed hospital based EAC program that is locked. This resource is shared with Lehigh and other surrounding counties. Northwestern Human Services offers a locked, 8-bed community based EAC program. Northampton County has access to 6 of these beds as the other 2 beds are for residents of the Carbon-Monroe-Pike County joinder. Both of these programs are grounded in Recovery Principles and focus on diverting individuals from State Hospital placement. Both programs offer up to 180 days of long term psychiatric treatment.

Victims Services The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Victim Resources website describes the following victim services resources for Northampton County. Further information can be found at: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/find_help_in_your_county/14752

Victim Service

Program

Type of Program Street Address City

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/find_help_in_your_county/14752

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Crime Victims

Council of the Lehigh

Valley

We help victims of all crimes 1555 Northampton

Street

Easton, PA

MADD -

Northeastern Affiliate

Office

We help victims of impaired

driving crashes

1216 Carbon

Street Reading, PA

Northampton County

Victim/Witness

Assistance

We help victims of all crimes 669 Washington

Street

Easton, PA

Turning Point of

Lehigh Valley

We help victims of domestic

violence

444 East

Susquehanna

Street

Allentown, PA

In addition, Northampton County residents have access to the following resources:

PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence 6400 Flank Drive, Ste. 1300 Harrisburg, PA 17112

daytime: 800-932-4632 website: www.pcadv.org

PA Coalition Against Rape 125 North Enola Drive Enola, PA 17025

daytime: 717-728-9740 24 hour hot line: 888-772-PCAR website: www.pcar.org

PCCD Victims Compensation Program 3101 N. Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17108

daytime: 717-783-5153 800-233-2339 website: www.pccd.state.pa.us

MADD, PA State Office 2323 Patton Road Harrisburg, PA 17112

daytime: 717-657-3911 24 hour hotline: 866-439-6233 (Pittsburgh) 800-848-6233 (Harrisburg) website: www.maddpa.org

http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/ova/OVA_Redirector.asp?U=www.pcadv.org

http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/ova/OVA_Redirector.asp?U=www.pcar.org

http://www.pccd.state.pa.us/

http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/ova/OVA_Redirector.asp?U=www.maddpa.org

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The gaps and opportunities identified in this report are the result of “brain storming” during the workshop, and include a broad range of input from workshop participants. These points reflect a variety of stakeholder opinions, and should be considered wide-ranging rather than reflecting a more focused majority consensus.

Identified Gaps

Some police departments are not open to CIT – Might be because of staffing

issues/costs

Some resistance during CIT training from non-volunteer officers - moving forward,

will use stricter guidelines for volunteer only officers

Casino in the county – Bringing in people from out of town who do not speak

English and are not citizens creating complications when arrested

No crisis center in the county

No psychiatric crisis center in county

All inpatient treatment (D&A) is out of county

No detox in the county but a new one is utilized in Leigh County (cannot be utilized

if criminal charges are pending)

Intoxicated individuals go to jail

Significant transient populations from NY, NJ, other parts of PA

Housing resources are limited

Identified Opportunities

Implemented successful CIT initiative with 28 graduates from first 5 day/40 hour

program

Strong CIT Advisory Board with significant support from local NAMI chapter

Several versions of CIT offered (4 hour, 6 hour) to meet the needs of various law

enforcement jurisdictions

Most law enforcement departments interested in CIT

Monthly police chiefs meeting

CIT group has reached out to first responders (including ambulance services)

and colleges

CIT was originally funded by the re-development authority although the funding

ended they can continue to provide 5-6 more trainings

Lafayette has helped the jail with translation services for people coming from out

of county

Lehigh Valley Research Consortium – Might be a great resource for measuring

effectiveness of CIT

Crisis Services also includes central phone number for anyone accessing a

broad range of services in Northampton County

Over the course of the week, Crisis gets multiple calls from police departments –

good collaboration

Police do not wait long in the ERs --- Training and good collaboration between

Crisis and the ERs

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Intercept II: Initial Detention / Initial Court Hearing

Arrest and Initial Detention

When an individual is arrested in Northampton County, he/she is typically taken to a local police department briefly, and then taken to either a Magisterial District Judge or to the Central Booking Center at the jail for arraignment.

Preliminary Arraignment

Northampton County houses 15 Magisterial District Judges (MDJs). MDJs have jurisdiction over minor criminal offenses, traffic offenses, landlord/tenant matters and other civil actions where the amount claimed does not exceed $12,000.00. In misdemeanor and felony cases, Magisterial District Judges have jurisdiction to issue arrest and search warrants, hold preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings and set bail.

Defendants are presented with a formal copy of the charges that have been filed against them during the Arraignment / Pre-Trial Conference. The process is conducted by an MDJ who advises all present of their pre-trial rights and the time periods in which certain motions must be filed. Attorneys who have formally entered their appearance to represent a defendant must be present at the arraignment permitting the Court to conference the case. The exception to an attorney's mandatory presence is if a defendant has submitted an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) application that has been previously forwarded to the District Attorney's office for consideration. In this instance the defendant is still required to appear before the Court for receipt of the formal charges or a bench warrant will be issued.

The Arraignment / Pre-Trial Conference permits certain defendants to take responsibility for their actions and receive positive consideration through the sentence of the Court. Generally several judges, assistant district attorney's, public defenders and conflict counsel are available to discuss a case in an effort bring about the best resolution of a case. If a case is unable to be resolved, a trial date will be assigned and member of the Court will be responsible to process the case to conclusion.

Northampton County Pretrial Services

Pretrial Services assists the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas and the MDJs with reports and recommendations concerning bail decisions for defendants charged with criminal offenses, and monitors those defendants as ordered. Pretrial Services is a judicial program and a division of Court Administration. Information gathered by a Pretrial Officer includes a background check of the defendant, employment history, residency status in the County, criminal record and family relationships in order to determine eligibility under the Court’s bail program. Recommendations made to the Court may be monetary, non-monetary or conditional, and include recognizance, unsecured,

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nominal and ten percent cash deposit types of bail. Defendants may be held under bail and detained in the County Jail pending disposition of their cases. The majority of cases ordered to bail supervision come from the Magisterial District Judges after preliminary arraignment. Decisions at the front end of the system impact not only the jail population but also the workload of all the criminal related offices including the Court of Common Pleas. The fifteen District Courts in Northampton County are the primary work focus of Pretrial Services. The Judges and Magisterial District Judges have the final authority on who is admitted to bail. Pretrial Officers are on call after normal business hours to assist the Courts, jail personnel and general public when the need arises. Pretrial Officers investigate new commitments to the county jail on a daily basis. Those held on bench warrants are identified and scheduled within 72 hours for a hearing by way of a video link to the courtroom where the motions judge presides. Defendants requiring further review of their bail status, and petitions to reduce bail filed by the Defense are also scheduled. Detailed background reports with a specific recommendation are prepared and made for the Court’s consideration on every defendant scheduled for a formal hearing. Bail reports and recommendations to the Magisterial District Judges are usually conveyed by telephone. Northampton County Pretrial Services supervises those defendants placed in the program by the Courts. All defendants are required to “report in” weekly with staff to confirm their location, employment and next scheduled court date. Additional Court ordered conditions of release may be imposed which intensify supervision and commonly involve substance abuse testing, drug and alcohol evaluation, mental health evaluation, or participation in various treatment programs. Domestic violence conditions prohibiting or limiting contact with a victim are routinely ordered and enforced. Electronic monitoring with global positioning, when ordered, is used as a condition of bail for some defendants where extra measures of accountability are required. Requirements for regular substance abuse testing and the necessity for defendants to remain drug free are frequently recommended by Pretrial Officers and ordered by the Judiciary as conditions of bail. Drug free defendants are more likely to appear in Court, avoid misconduct and cooperate with counsel. If adjudicated, defendants may be ordered to continue with drug testing or treatment as a condition of probation or parole. The majority of individuals entering the system experience substance abuse problems. Notices to appear for scheduled court events are sent to each defendant by regular mail to supplement the process and used by the Magisterial District Courts and District Attorney. The designated Pretrial Officer may prepare petitions to the Court for bail revocation, modification or forfeiture when any violation of conditions occurs. Case information is turned over to the Sheriff’s Department to assist in apprehension if a bench warrant is issued. The fugitive rate was .66% in 2012. The table below lists the number of pretrial investigations, bail recommendations, bail supervisions, and average daily caseload per year for 2010, 2011, and 2012:

2010

2011

2012 Defendants Investigated

2734

2447

2667

Bail Recommendations

1260

1159

1349

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Cases Ordered to Bail Supervision 1907 1671 1937 Average Daily Caseload

978

840

913

See Appendix B for the Pretrial Services 2012 Annual Report.

Identified Gaps

Pretrial Services have problems finding some individuals housing

Pretrial Services cannot incorporate D & A services as a condition of bail because

of D & A policies

Sometimes gaps/uncertainties in policy logistics between Pretrial Services and

D&A

MH and D&A services were hit hard by recent budget cuts


MDJ are open to considering alternative options for Pretrial Services

Pretrial Services has daily conversations with the courts and FACT Team

Pretrial Services has very low rate of recidivism for people they supervise for bail

Potential for more collaborative efforts between Pretrial Services and D&A

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Intercept III: Jails / Courts

Northampton County Jail

The Northampton County Department of Corrections is located at 666 Walnut St in Easton and houses inmates who are awaiting trial or who have been convicted and are serving shorter sentences. On average, the Northampton County Jail processes approximately 4,000 admissions per year. The current jail census is 730, with 650 individuals housed in the main jail campus and an additional 80 housed at the West Easton facility .

The West Easton Treatment Center is a 100 bed contracted work release facility specifically for individuals with DUI and/or domestic relations (e.g. child support non-payment) charges. There are currently between 60 and 80 inmates housed in the West Easton Treatment Center.

Behavioral Health Services

At admission, inmates are interviewed by classification. This interview includes mental health questions, and anyone suspected of being suicidal or in need of mental health services is referred to the mental health clinician. This information is communicated to the mental health clinician via the Core Medical computer system.

PrimeCare Medical, Inc. provides all medical and behavioral health services in the jail, including the mental health clinician, and four hours of psychiatric time per week (split between two psychiatrists). The mental health clinician has an estimated 450 patient contacts each month. In addition, the jail has two caseworkers who work as general case managers for the jail. The case managers cover all inmates except those on work release and currently share a combined caseload of approximately 600 inmates per month. 37% of the jail population is currently on psychotropic medication. An estimated 25% are considered to have severe mental illness. Other behavioral health services in the jail include: Therapeutic Community Life Skills Program: Community Education Centers (CEC) contracted residential program in operation for the past 4-5 years. The program has a duration of 6 months, 1 week, and 1 day and has the capacity to serve 64 individuals. This program aims to provide an understanding of behaviors that lead to incarceration and introduce skills that can be used to live a life free of crime and drugs. The Therapeutic Community Life Skills program also includes a graduated weekly aftercare counseling component (twice a week for the first 4 weeks, once a week thereafter) upon release. The recidivism rate for graduates of this program is estimated to be around 30%. CEC also runs a separate 18 bed, 4-month program for females, as well as, a Sister to Sister Program.

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PA 143 Victim Awareness: Treatment Coordinator provides a six-session PA State Parole mandated course. PA State Parole Education Class: Treatment Coordinator teaches a 2-hour course for state parole inmates. Alcoholics Anonymous: Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Narcotics Anonymous: NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. Moving Forward Re-Entry Assistance: This work-school reentry program assists male & female offenders, during private counseling sessions, with the practical skills required as an ex-offender to navigate admission to colleges, training & the workforce. The inmate and counselor create a realistic & individualized plan utilizing his or her strengths, interests, past work/school history, disabilities and criminal charges. Recovery Revolution Life Skills: Recovery Revolution Inc. offers this six-session class. Practical skills such as job hunting, resume building, interview skills, communication skills, parenting techniques, disciplining teenagers, balancing a check book, opening a bank account, voting, and improving your credit, are some of the topics. This class is available to all inmates. Family Answers: Family Answers Inc. teaches a 6-week 12 session course on Fatherhood, Relationships and Offender Re-entry. 2Freeminds: Marques Grundy leads a group on positive individual development & life skills, such as career planning & work life, communication, daily living & home life, housing & money management, self-care & social relationships. Prison Smart: This program is designed to make life-transformation differences in the lives of individuals within the criminal justice system. It teaches life-skills for reducing stress, healing trauma and provides practical knowledge of how to handle one’s emotions. Therapy Group: This Stephens Place (Halfway House) discussion group addresses drug and alcohol abuse. The group is facilitated by Sister Virginia Longcope. Recovery Program: 12 Step Recovery program for drug and alcohol abuse. Infectious/Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Bethlehem Health Bureau offers free testing and individual counseling for at risk offenders. Clear: St. Luke’s Hospital provides information about HIV and resources for re-entry. Hogar Crea: A group of staff members from a local half-way house run a class reeducating those with addictions to live a productive life.

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Parenthood: Carenet of the Lehigh Valley provides an 8-12 week course teaching parenting with life skills, including parenting skills for multi-level ages and preparing individuals to reconnect with family once released. Standing T.A.L.L.: David Rose, a member of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, teaches a group of men on how to tell their life stories in an effective way. The stories are told to students who tour the prison followed by a question and answer period. The purpose is to alert the students to the triggers that landed them in jail and the therapeutic aspect of reflecting on one’s life to see the mistakes that were made. Art Therapy Group: Dr. Bonnie Winfield provides a weekly group to explore life stories, emotions, and circumstances through the use of narrative and expressive art. Participants write stories based on a prompt (such as a moment of happiness, a teacher in my life, my greatest life lesson.) The women are then asked to represent an aspect of the story in art with supplies such as watercolors, pastels, and color pencils.

Educational and Vocational Services Alternative Education Program Act 30 of 1997: Easton Area School District Compulsory education, which provides the opportunity for a high school diploma. English as A Second Language: Northampton County Community College Adult Basic Education 1 and 2: Northampton County Community College General Equivalency Diploma Program: Northampton County Community College Multi Adult Basic Education College Prep: Northampton County Community College Local College Tutors: Lafayette College, Lehigh University: Provides assistance and support to basic reading, writing, and arithmetic Community Corrections Program: Allows the resident to be gainfully employed in the community while serving his or her sentence. Vocational Release Program: Allows the resident to attend vocational education in the community while serving his or her sentence. Educational Release Program: Allows the resident to complete high school requirements or attend college classes in the community. Community Volunteer Service (CVS) Program: This program provides nonprofit organizations with the opportunity to have inmates who are on the Home Furlough/Community Corrections programs to work within their facilities. The inmate through his/her volunteer efforts has the opportunity to earn additional home furlough hours. An inmate may earn a maximum of twenty (20) additional hours during a calendar month. Participants must be housed in work release facility. House Arrest Program: This program is solely for community corrections residents and focuses on the reentry of those residents into the community during the last thirty (30) days of

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their sentence. Participants in this program are monitored through an electronic device. The inmate incurs the total cost for this monitoring. Participation in this program is granted after careful review and interview by the jail administration and classification team.

Courts

The Third Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania includes the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, which is served by a complement of ten full-time judges. Judges of the Court of Common Pleas are elected officials for ten-year terms. Once a judge is elected for his or her first term, the judge may seek an additional ten-year term by way of the retention process, as provided for in the Pennsylvania State Constitution. Judges are state employees.

Responsible for the Administration of Justice:

1. District Justices - small claims, landlord/tenant disputes, driving violations, non-traffic violations, criminal offenses bound to Common Pleas Court.

2. Court of Common Pleas: all civil and criminal cases, Law Library

3. Family Court - (types of litigation) - divorce, child support, custody, dependency, delinquency, Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders

4. Orphans' Court - adoptions, terminations, guardianships, accounts (estate-settling disputes)

There are no problem solving courts or specialty dockets in Northampton County, however judges often take the recommendations of the Forensic Advocacy Collaboration Team (FACT) into consideration (see intercept 4 for more information on FACT).

Pre-Trial Services

Pre-Trial Services is an arm of the Court and does initiate action at any time before sentencing commences. Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)

The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas utilizes the statewide Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program specifically for first-time DUI offenders.

ARD is a pre-trial program designed to allow the least-dangerous defendants – first-time, non-violent offenders – to circumvent the usually lengthy trial process. The ARD program suspends the formal criminal prosecution before trial if the defendant agrees to certain conditions, such as completing substance abuse treatment. The district attorney chooses who is accepted into the ARD program, and has considerable discretion when formulating polices or deciding which cases will be referred to the ARD program.

Defendants who are accepted into the ARD program are placed under supervision, typically by the Northampton County Adult Probation & Parole department. The maximum period of supervision for someone on ARD is two years. If the accused successfully completes the ARD program, the underlying criminal charges are dismissed and the defendant’s record is expunged of the arrest record and of the ARD disposition. An estimated 27% (250/900) of the Northampton County Pretrial Services clients enter the ARD program.

Forensic Advocacy Collaboration Team (FACT)

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FACT was initiated by Northampton County Mental Health in February of 2011. The team is comprised of the mental health supervisor and forensic adult transition worker, the Northampton county Certified Peer Specialist, the Deputy Warden of the Northampton County Jail, a corrections caseworker from the jail, three members of the jail treatment team, an officer from pretrial services, an adult probation supervisor, and the director of the Northampton County Intake Referral Emergency Services Unit. The team meets biweekly to review and discuss individuals with serious mental health histories and either an upcoming or recent release from incarceration. The primary focus of the team is to determine the needs of each individual (e.g. housing, VA services, outpatient referrals, etc.). Once an individual’s needs have been identified, the FACT team works to coordinate the necessary services. One member of the FACT team is tasked with the “lead worker” role for each client, and is then responsible for following through with treatment/needs coordination for that individual. On average, the FACT team reviews approximately seven cases per meeting. The goal of the team is to prevent incarceration and/or hasten release of individuals by providing solid treatment and support planning. In the first year of FACT team operation, 78% of the clients served avoided re-incarceration.

Identified Gaps

Sometimes judges issue warrants for Failure to Appear even if individuals are

incarcerated

37% of the jail census are on psychotropic medication

Only two case managers in the jail with over 600 inmates

Jail has an electronic linkage with state JNET system – As soon as someone

enters jail they are entered into the system – Benefits are terminated quicker

ARD can costs defendants $500-$2,000 in fees

DA has reservations about developing a Mental Health Court in the county

Sometimes judges issuewarrants even if individuals are in treatment (not

incarcerated)


West Easton Treatment Center provides contracted work release services

Every two weeks the Treament Coordinator sends the Forensic Adult Transition

Worker a list of new commitments to the jail

Forensic Advocacy Collaboration Team (FACT) has demonstrated progress in

addressing some of the more challenging individuals involved with the justice

system

Opportunities for sharing of information between MH and jail treatment staff

Jail hosted Community Forums two years ago to increase understanding of their

population and their needs for successful reintegration into the community –

Reentry efforts jump started from there

Judges receptive to FACT team community plans

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Intercept IV: Re-Entry

Northampton County Jail Re-Entry Services

Upon release, individuals leaving the Northampton County Jail are provided with a 3-day supply of psychotropic and physical health medication. Inmates who are involved with FACT often receive a larger supply medication (14 – 30 days).

There is a small re-entry team within the jail that focuses on individuals with homelessness. In addition, a volunteer re-entry coordinator meets with some individuals in the jail.

Northampton Re-Entry Coalition

The Northampton County Reentry Coalition, began in 2011, is comprised of 70 + individuals who meet on a quarterly basis. Each meeting includes a speaker on a re-entry related topic. The coalition includes monthly sub-committees on:

• Housing

• Mental health treatment

• Employment

• Education

Drug and Alcohol Treatment

See Appendix C for the Re-entry Coalition Logic Model.

Returning Citizens Roundtable

The Northampton County Returning Citizens Round Table (RCRT) is a focus group that provides re-entry planning for individuals on work release from the jail and provides input for the coalition’s planning process. Through this program, individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system act as mentors for newly returning citizens. The roundtable meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month This focus group is open to anyone in the work release facility and anyone in the community on probation or parole (county, state or federal).

Re-Entry from Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

The Department of Corrections (DOC) and Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) begin the reentry process upon an offender's admission to prison. Then prior to a parole interview, the PBPP actively works with offenders to prepare for the parole interview and to develop a reentry plan. If paroled, the field parole agent will assist offenders through problem solving case management to help them be successful and monitor compliance with conditions of parole. This balance in supervision is important to improving parole outcomes.

The Deputy Administrator of Northampton County Mental Health receives a quarterly list from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Corrections of Northampton County inmates on the DOC mental

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health caseload. That list is used to develop aftercare linkage services for county residents coming out of state prison.

For more information on the DOC reentry process please visit: http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/community_reentry/5357

Veterans Services

Northampton County is served by the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, located at 1111 East End Blvd. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711(Phone: 570-824-3521 | 877-928-2621).

The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, (http://www.wilkes-barre.va.gov/index.asp) has a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist to coordinate forensic services for veterans in the criminal justice system. Northampton County is served by Kim Sapolis ([email protected]). For more information on the Veterans Justice Outreach Initiative and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), please see Guide 7 – “Information Sheet on Justice-Involved Veterans for Judicial System” located in the Resource Guide Document.

Identified Gaps

Housing

One of the biggest hurdles after lack of housing is Identification Documentation

Jail has reached out to State Correctional Institutions (SCI’s) for more information

on specific individuals coming back to the county but had difficulty reaching anyone

Field Officers might be able to reinstate Social Security with just a brief paragraph

on Jail letterhead

Jail recidivism data is not currently tracked


2011- Forensic Advocacy Collaboration Team (FACT) success with returning mental health consumers. 78% of returning citizens FACT assisted remained in the community at 12 months post-release

Individuals who are part of FACT team receive increased supplies of aftercare medication to bridge the gap – two weeks to 30 days

FACT team members are from across the intercepts

Forensic Peer Support Specialist works on the FACT team

FACT streamlines the communication process

2011-Reentry Coalition established

2011-Reentry Logic Model completed and adopted by Reentry Coalition (see Appendix C)

Out of the success of FACT, an internal re-entry team in the jail for people who do

not have mental illness (homeless issues, sex offenders)

Returning Citizens Roundtable

- Includes peers and informal mentors

Jail willing to discuss having forensic peer support specialist come into the jail for mentoring

Exploring website/booklets for newly released inmates

A lot of resources for people coming out of the jail who are part of the Therapeutic Community/ Community Education Centers (CEC)

Good communication/ correspondences with state parole office in Allentown

http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/community_reentry/5357

http://www.wilkes-barre.va.gov/index.asp

mailto:[email protected]

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Jail has done a good job getting individuals aftercare doctors’ appointments

Jail working hard to get recidivism numbers and working with a local college

(strategic plan)

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Intercept V: Community Corrections / Community Support

Northampton County Probation

Northampton County Adult Probation is located in the Criminal Administration Building at 105 South Union Street in Easton. The mission of the department is to provide the highest quality of protection to the community, while supervising offenders placed on county probation and parole. The staff is comprised of 11 line officers, 6 specialty officers, a deputy, and a chief. The department provides services to clientele that assist in community adjustment, while being sensitive to the safety and expectations of the community. The primary goal of the department is to produce law abiding and productive citizens within the community. As of December 14, 2011 fourteen probation officers handled the supervision of 2,692 cases. Northampton County also has a Probation Office (separate from Adult Probation) that specifically supervises DUI cases. There are 6 officers and a director.

State Parole

The Parole Board was established by the Parole Act of 1941, which states “The parole system provides several benefits to the criminal justice system, including the provision of adequate supervision of the offender while protecting the public, the opportunity for the offender to become a useful member of society and the diversion of appropriate offenders from prison.”

The Board has the responsibility to parole, recommit for violations of parole, and to discharge from parole offenders sentenced to two years or more and offenders requested by the court for special probation. State parole utilizes a specialty unit for mental health caseloads. There is an ASCRA parole agent currently participating on the Northampton County Re Entry Coalition who is specially trainined to implement me parole programs.

The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole is divided in the state into three regions: Western, Central and Eastern. Within each of these three regions are 10 District Offices, 15 Sub-Offices and 26 Institutional Parole Offices. Northampton County is in Allentown District within the Central Region served by the Allentown District Office. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole reported 158 individuals opened cases in Northampton County in 2011, which is up slightly from the average of 148 from 2007 through 2011. Northampton County CJAB

The County Executive and the President Judge established the CJAB on September 27, 2002. As recommended in the PCCD Operating Standards, the following criminal justice system stakeholders hold a standing invitation to serve as members of the Northampton County Criminal Justice Advisory Board:

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County Executive

President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

Magisterial District Judge

Director of Court Administration

District Attorney

Public Defender

Chief of Police Association

Sheriff

Chief Adult Probation Officer

Chief Juvenile Probation Officer

Director of Corrections

Juvenile Detention Director Based on local initiatives and activities, and in order to meet the recommendations of a diverse and broad-based board representation of the community, membership also includes representation from the following:

Director of Information Services

Emergency Management Services

Director of Human Services

Mental Health/Early Intervention/ Developmental Programs Administrator

Drug and Alcohol Administrator

Weed and Seed

Director of Administration

Northampton County Prison Board Since the inception of the CJAB in 2002, the board has accomplished the following:

2002-2003- Probation Department received grants for staffing positions.

2003-The Pennsylvania Justice Network (J-Net) was developed by the Commonwealth as an on-line environment for private, secure exchange of criminal justice information. This system allows Criminal Justice Agencies and select support agencies, such as the Department of Public Welfare and Children, Youth & Family Services, to view and access criminal justice information.

2006/2007- Revitalization of the CJAB

2007-current- Drug and Alcohol treatment grants Drug & Alcohol received a grant commencing July 1, 2007. The 2012-2013 funding is $191, 778 to specifically provide substance abuse treatment to offenders.

2011- Forensic Advocacy Collaboration Team (FACT) success with returning Mental Health consumers. 78% of returning citizens FACT assisted remained in the community at 12 months post-release.

2011-Reentry Coalition established

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2011-Reentry Logic Model completed and adopted by Reentry Coalition. (see Appendix C)

2012-CJAB revision of the bylaws

2012- Identification of a lead agency for county-wide reentry planning.

2012-Live Scan machine purchased to begin new procedures for tracking Megan’s Law/Adam Walsh offenders. Collaboration between the Sheriff’s Department and Adult Probation.

For more information on the Northampton County CJAB and to view the 2012 strategic plan, see Appendix D of this document. Residential Programs and Housing Housing Residency Policy To be eligible for any type of mental health housing in Northampton County an individual must be a resident of Northampton County for a period of at least 30 days. An individual may establish residency by residing in a shelter, with a friend or family member, personal care boarding home or any other type of residence as long as it is located in Northampton County. An individual will not be placed on any of the Northampton County Mental Health housing waiting lists until residency is established as indicated above. Long Term Structured Residence (LTSR) This home serves 8 individuals and mental health treatment is provided in the home. Everyone has their own furnished room with a private powder room. This is the most restrictive setting available in the community. The program is staffed 24/7. Individuals may live at the LTSR as long as they require this level of care. A signed MA 51 form needs to be completed by a physician stating the individual requires LTSR level of care. COMHAR is the provider; unlocked. Enhanced Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR)/All Inclusive Residence (AIR) NCMH offers one AIR program. It is located in a rural setting and is operated by Resources for Human Development (RHD). The home serves 8 individuals. Everyone has their own furnished room. The program is staffed 24/7. A psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, Certified Peer Specialist, therapist and case management staff are all included in this program. The home has a cat and a dog that reside in the home. Residents may live there as long as this level of care is required. Specialized Behavioral and/or Medical Homes These programs serve 3 or 4 individuals in a home. Everyone has their own furnished room. The programs have 24/7 staff. Staff is trained to deal with specific behavioral and medical needs. Mental health treatment is not provided in t these programs. Psychiatric treatment may be accessed through ACT, Partial Hospitalization Programs or traditional outpatient services.

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Individuals may live in these homes as long as this level of care is required. COMHAR, Access Services and Fitzmaurice are the providers for these homes. Please contact the Housing Specialist or the CHIPP coordinator at (610) 974-7555 for all inquiries related to any of the housing or housing related programs. Community Residential Rehabilitation (Group Homes) Step-by-Step 623 W. Union Boulevard Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-867-2031 Contact: Christine Stendell

The Mental Health Program funds three full-care group homes for adults that are operated by Step-by-Step, Inc. These homes offer access to 24-hour supervision for Northampton County residents who are diagnosed with a serious mental illness and require this level of care. Residents are assisted in acquiring daily living skills in order to move forward in their recovery and eventually live independently. The Main Street site operates with a behavioral modification philosophy and has a capacity of 12 beds. The Main Street CRR is transitional with an average length of stay of 6 to 12 months. Weil Street (4 beds) is for transition age youth between the ages of 18 and 30. This is a 6 month program. Center Street (8 beds) is a longer term CRR for inidividuals requiring more than 12 months of support. Referrals to all of these programs are made through the County Mental Health Program. Consumers must be active in the County Mental Health System, have a serious and persistent mental illness, and have a need to acquire certain skills before moving to more independent living arrangements in the community. All programs are voluntary.. Independent Apartments There are 5 independent apartments on 4th Street in Bethlehem. Step-By-Step (SxS) serves as the landlord. These apartments are subsidized. Smoking is not permitted in these units, and they are unfurnished. There are 10 independent apartments located on Packer Avenue in Bethlehem. Unity House serves as the landlord for these apartments. These apartments are not subsidized, so applicants must have Valley Housing, a housing authority voucher, or be able to pay the rent independently. Pets are allowed, but must be approved by Unity House. Smoking is not permitted in these units, and they are unfurnished. There are 10 (Northampton County) townhouse apartments located on Gordon Street in Allentown. These units are subsidized. Barbara Cooper of Valley Housing is the contact person for these apartments. Barbara can be reached at 610-866-0124 ext. 15. Smoking is permitted; unfurnished. There are two single apartments and three double apartments located on 13th St in Easton. These units are subsidized. The apartments are managed by Step-By-Step Inc. Smoking is not permitted; furnished.

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Moravian IV, with eight units, and North Street, with two units, are managed by Moravian Development Corporation and are located on North Street in Bethlehem. These units are subsidized.. Smoking is not permitted; unfurnished. Supported Apartments

NCMH offers several different types of supported apartments. Salisbury House operates a site in Bethlehem. This site has 5 double-occupancy apartments. These apartments are staffed 16 hours a day. The staff office is located on the second floor above an end unit of the apartment complex. All medications are kept in the staff office and all dosages are monitored. Staff work with residents to learn cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping and other daily living tasks as needed. Residents may live at this residence as long as they continue to need this level of care. All residents have their own bedrooms, but they share all of the apartment common areas with their respective roommate. The apartments are fully furnished. Smoking is not permitted. The other Supported Living Program that Salisbury Behavioral Health operates is located in Hellertown. There are 12 supported apartments (11 single-occupancy and 1 double-occupancy). This program is based on a psychiatric rehabilitation model in which all programming is individualized. There is no set time frame for the program, but most people complete the program in less than a year. It is a transitional program. Residents of the program participate in individual and group training sessions. Staff are only available during the day and there is no medication monitoring component to this program. The purpose of the program is to assist each individual in acquiring daily living skills so that upon completion of the program they will be able to live in their own apartment with little or no assistance. A tenant may have an approved pet in his or her apartment. Smoking is not permitted; furnished. O Resources for Human Development (RHD) operates the newest supported living program. This program is called The Lodge and program staffing is based on individual need. As these individuals progress in their recovery, staff time is adjusted accordingly. Residents in this program live either in The Lodge or in an apartment in the community near the Lodge. There is a central lodge that serves as the hub for any employment/business related activities. The Lodge is also utilized for community meetings and activities.. This program houses12 individuals. There is no overnight staffing and no medication management;unfurnished. In the fall of 2013 the Lodge will expand with a location on Butler Street in Easton. This site will provided supported housing for 7 people in individual furnished apartments. www.TheLodge-rhd.org Personal Care Boarding Home (PCBH)

There are private PCBH facilities available throughout the Lehigh Valley for persons requiring this level of care and have the necessary funds to cover the monthly costs. To learn more about requirements, or search a list of facilities in this area (or anywhere in PA), click this link: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Personal Care Home Directory Short-Term Rental Assistance

This program provides a security deposit an first month’s rent for individuals starting out in a new apartment. This program is administeredby Step By Step, Respite Care

Respite services are available on a limited basis for eligible children/adolescents and adults who are actively involved with the county’s mental health services. Before being approved for adult

http://www.thelodge-rhd.org/

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/searchforprovider/pchdirectory/index.htm

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respite, which is generally authorized for a two-week period, there needs to be a definite plan in place for post-respite. Youth Advocacy Program (YAP), and Valley Youth House (VYH) provide these services for children/adolescents. YAP and VYH offer in-home respite. Respite services are intended for use in circumstances such as these:

Family member/caretaker absences due to crises and/or vacations. Stabilization and structure needed to avoid decompensation. Family need for temporary relief.

In home respite for children is usually scheduled on a several hours per week basis. Referrals need to be made by the consumer’s case manager. Residential Services for Children/Adolescents

These services consist of two types, therapeutic family care and residential treatment facilities. Therapeutic family care is provided in “foster” type homes and includes treatment for the child/adolescent living there temporarily and to his/her family to which they will return. These placements are short term, usually 4 months and family involvement is essential. Residential Treatment Facilities are placements for those severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents who are not able to be successfully treated in a family or community setting/program. These placements are also intended to be short-term in nature and with an emphasis on family therapy. For more information contact Brian Watson at 610-997-5870. Case Management Services Administrative Case Management

All consumers who are actively involved with the Northampton County Mental Health Program initially receive this level of care. Consumers will continue at this level throughout the time their cases are active with us, unless we find they require a higher level of care known as targeted case management. Administrative case management services are designed to first provide an initial assessment and determination of eligibility for other mental health programs. Once this is determined, initial and ongoing service planning will occur which will result in linkages to selected services, authorization of these services, monitoring of services received, and outreach from the assigned Administrative Case Manager. Targeted Case Management

Targeted case management refers to programs that provide intensive and goal-directed case management services to adults with serious and persistent mental illness and to children/adolescents who are seriously emotionally disturbed or at risk of becoming so. Services are targeted for those persons for whom traditional community mental health services alone have not been effective. This may include persons who have not achieved and maintained health and stability in the community and persons who, without these services, would continue to experience hospitalization, incarceration and/or homelessness). Caseloads are much smaller and regular face-to-face contact is required. Northampton County funds intensive case management services and blended case management services for adults. The blended program allows a person to continue to receive case management services from the same worker even though the frequency of contacts fluctuates. In order to provide intensive case management services and blended case management services to adults, contracts are held with community vendors including

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Northwestern Human Services, Holcomb Behavioral Health, Resources for Human Development, and Salisbury Behavioral Health. Targeted case managers assist consumers in linking up to community and provider resources. These programs provide assistance to consumers in identifying, accessing, and learning to use community resources in meeting treatment/service plan objectives. These units also maintain emergency on-call services twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. Services are guided by the principle that adults with serious mental illness can recover and live successfully in their communities when individualized services and supports are provided. Referrals for targeted case management services must be made through the regular intake process (via the consumer’s assigned Administrative Case Manager) if an individual does not have Magellan Behavioral Health services. Assertive Community Treatment Teams

Intensive outpatient case management and treatment services are offered by Assertive Act Community Treatment Teams (sometimes referred to as community teams, and CHIPPS teams). These services were developed as part of the Community/Hospital Integration Projects Program (CHIPP) specifically to serve those individuals coming out of Allentown State Hospital and to divert others from needing long term hospital level care. These programs offer Intensive Case Management (ICM) plus other team-delivered treatment and support services including emergency on-call services twenty-four hours per day, seven day per week, and the capacity for daily medication monitoring. Northwestern Human Services, Salisbury Behavioral Health and Resources for Human Development are the providers for these programs. ACT services are targeted for those persons for whom traditional community mental health services alone have not been effective. This includes persons who have not achieved and maintained health and stability in the community and persons who, without these services, would continue to experience hospitalization, incarceration and/or homelessness. Referrals for ACT/CHIPPS team services must be made through regular intake process (via the consumer’s assigned Administrative Case Manager).

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics Assessment and treatment services are offered via these programs that include psychiatric evaluation, therapy and ongoing medication monitoring. Services are individualized, strengths-based, and are not time-limited. Services for all age groups are offered here:

Cedar Point Family Services/ New Directions (bi-lingual services available) 2456 Brodhead Road Bethlehem, PA 18020 Phone: 610-758-8011 Holcomb Behavioral Health

Haven House 1530 Hanover Avenue Allentown, PA 18109 Phone: 610-433-6181 www.havenbhs.com Life Guidance

http://www.havenbhs.com/

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All of the outpatient clinics listed above are county contracted providers. The providers also contract with the local Managed Care Organization; Magellan Behavioral Health. Magellan has an extensive provider network, which cana be accessed via the link below:

https://www.magellanprovider.com/MHS/MGL/about/handbooks/supplements/pa_healthchoices/appLN_lnprovdir.pdf

Substance Abuse Services

The Drug & Alcohol Division is a county office responsible for the provision of prevention, education, treatment and case management for those impacted by addiction. The majority of direct services are made available to the public through contracts with community service providers. The objectives are to raise public awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse, drug abuse and problem gambling, and to offer resources to arrest the disease of addiction. Services include:

(does not accept Medicare) 929 Northampton Street Easton, PA 18042 610-330-9862 LV Community Mental Health (bi-lingual services available) 865 E. 4th Street Bethlehem, PA 18015 Phone: 610-691-4357 BET-EL (bi-lingual services available) 307 E 4th Street Bethlehem, PA 18015 Phone: 610-849-2291

(bi-lingual services available) 19 E. Elizabeth Avenue Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-865-1699 LV Community Mental Health (bi-lingual services available) 226 Northampton Street Easton, PA 18042 Phone: 610-330-0489 Northeast Treatment Centers(does not accept Medicare) 44 E. Broad Street; Suite 020 Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-868-0435 Northeast Treatment Centers (does not accept Medicare) 6 South Third Street Easton, PA 18042 Phone: 610-253-6760

Pinebrook Services (serves children, adolescents and adults) 1101 Northampton St Ste 2001 Easton, PA 18042 610-559-8151 www.pinebrookservices.org

Pinebrook Services (serves children, adolescents and adults) 402 N. Fulton Street Allentown, PA 18102 Phone: 610-432-3919 www.pinebrookservices.org



http://www.pinebrookservices.org/

http://www.pinebrookservices.org/

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Education and Prevention services - Includes drug, alcohol and problem gambling prevention and education information in schools, the workplace and the community

Intervention - Professionals in home or school settings provide the interventions with assessments offered by county provider agencies

Student Assistance Program consultation services - Ongoing technical assistance to all SAP teams in Northampton County School Districts

Assessment - Professional evaluation of nature and level of problem experienced by presenting client, and the recommended level of care indicated

Administrative Case Management -Fiscal authorization and clinical review of recommended level of care, utilization review, and ongoing coordination of services through the continuum of care for every County client

Intensive Case Management – Individualized case planning and provision of supportive services to remove obstacles to recovery within client’s daily community environment

Detoxification - Short term residential either medically managed or medically monitored to ameliorate initial symptoms of withdrawal from substance of abuse

Inpatient treatment services – Professional, Licensed Treatment services in a residential setting, delivered in a structured, clean and sober environment

Outpatient treatment services - Includes individual, group and family counseling in licensed facilities

Methadone Maintenance - Ambulatory detoxification and maintenance are offered to persons with serious opiate addiction

Transitional housing services - Temporary provision of room and board in a shelter setting for persons in a continuum of treatment

Hepatitis C services - Pre & Post test counseling, Hepatitis C testing, referral and early intervention via contract with New Directions Treatment Services

Recovery Support Services - assistance in access to resources necessary to obtain and maintain recovery from addiction

Outpatient treatment for substance abuse is provided by:

N.E.T. NorthEast Treatment Centers

44 E. Broad Street, Suite 020

Bethlehem, PA 18018

Phone: 610-868-0435

N.E.T. NorthEast Treatment Centers

6 S 3rd Street, Suite 508

Easton, PA 18042

38

Phone: 610-253-6760

New Directions Treatment Services

(Methadone maintenance)

2442 Brodhead Road

Bethlehem, PA 18020

Phone: 610-758-8011

Recovery Revolution Inc.

109 Broadway

Bangor, PA 18013

Phone: 610-599-7700

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services: (Site Based and Mobile) Staff in these programs provide training, support, and education to assist consumers so that they can achieve successful community living. Site-based services are provided at a supported apartment site managed by Salisbury Behavioral Health. Mobile services are also provided by Step-by-Step at scattered independent living sites. Both involve the provision of services at the residences of consumers. Haven House provides a non-residential site based program at their facility which is co-located with their outpatient program. Referrals for these programs are made through the County program if an individual does not have Magellan Behavioral Health Services. Drop-In Centers The Drop-In Centers are open to all mental health consumers in Northampton County who are interested in meeting people and making new friends. They provide a friendly social atmosphere with scheduled daily activities including games, arts & crafts, discussion and education groups, vocational activities, and much more. Light refreshments are served daily. The locations are: Northampton County Drop-In Center 70 W North Street Bethlehem PA 18018 Phone: 610-954-5501 Fax: 610-954-5702 E-mail: [email protected] Easton Community Drop-In Center 60 N 4th Street

39

Easton PA 18042 Phone: 610-252-8420 Fax: 610-250-9611 Van transportation is available on scheduled days for transportation. The Northampton County Drop-In Center is operated by Recovery Partnership and the Easton Community Drop-In Center is operated by Salisbury Behavioral Health. Clubhouses Modeled after the Fountain House program in New York City, the Clubhouse movement offers consumers interested in fulfilling work a guaranteed place to come, to belong, and to enjoy meaningful relationships as they seek the confidence and skills necessary to lead vocationally productive and socially satisfying lives. To contact the Unity House: Unity House 117 W. 4th Street Bethlehem, PA 18015 Phone: 610-691-1580 http://www.unityclubhouse.com This site is open Monday thru Thursday from 8:30 am till 4:00 pm and Fridays from 8:30 am till 3:00 pm. Consumers are encouraged to stop by for a visit. After-hour social activities are also scheduled. Vocational/Employment Programs Associated Production Services Inc. (APS) 950 Pembroke Road Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-867-6659 APS is an affirmative industry program that provides an integrated, supported work environment in which trainees can experience employment in a manufacturing/packaging business or in a mobile workforce. The facility operates from 8:30 am to 3:45 pm, Monday thru Friday. Workers at APS earn a training wage and this job can be a vehicle for developing the skills needed to attain higher-paying jobs throughout the community. Private Industry Council (PIC) 1601 Union Blvd. Allentown, PA 18102 Phone: 610-437-5627 PIC is a supported employment program that combines vocational assessment, placement of a consumer in a competitive job, on-the-job training, and long-term support. The worker will earn competitive wages while working in a flexible, individualized, consumer-centered program, guided by a team that includes staff members from PIC, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and NC Mental Health.

40

Café the Lodge Café the Lodge is part of the Mental Health Recovery Lodge of Northampton County, located on 427 East Fourth Street, on the Southside of Bethlehem. The Lodge provides supported housing, educational and recreational programs, and vocational opportunities for adults with mental illness. According to individual preferences, some of the members live at the Lodge, while others live in surrounding rental properties. The Lodge affirms self determination and supports its residential members to establish independent and long-term living arrangements, as well as a productive and meaningful existence. For more information, go to: www.TheLodge-rhd.org, call the office at 610-419-3318, or call the café at 610-849-2100. Recovery Partnership Recovery Partnership (formerly The Lehigh Valley Consumer/Family Satisfaction Team, Inc.) is an organization authorized by Lehigh County and Northampton County Offices of Mental Health to provide consumer satisfaction team services. Created out of the need for a reliable method of monitoring and reporting satisfaction within the mental health system, Recovery Partnership is a team of individuals who are either consumers of mental health services, family members of consumers, and those vested in improving the mental health system. Recovery Partnership 70 W. North Street, Suite 101 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018 Phone 610-861-2741 Toll Free 1-888-691-4278 Fax 610-861-2781 www.recoverypartnership.org Self Help and Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous and AA of the Lehigh Valley o Local phone: 610-882-0558

Depressive, Manic-Depressive Association o Local phone: 610-432-8011

Lehigh Valley Mental Health Consumers Alliance o Local phone: 610-434-8227

Lehigh Valley Assertive Community Treatment - Gambling Help Mental Health America

o Toll-free phone: 800-969-6642 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Pennsylvania (NAMI-PA) National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Lehigh Valley (NAMI-LV)

o Local phone: 610-882-2102 National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse PA Families Inc. (Statewide Family Network)

o Toll-free phone: 800-947-4941 Parents Involved Network (PIN) Autism Society of America Lehigh Valley

http://www.thelodge-rhd.org/

http://www.recoverypartnership.org/

41

Identified Gaps

Confusion over Intensive Case Management (ICM) transportation billing

Mentioned that as of April 2014 the shelter (Safe Harbor) will no longer accept individuals with mental health challenges

Barriers to service based on geographic areas in the county

Lack of transportation in the county

No master leasing authority


Through the help of CJAB:

- Probation Department received grants for staffing positions (2002-2003)

- Drug & Alcohol received a grant commencing July 1, 2007. The 2012-

2013 funding is $191, 778 to specifically provide substance abuse

treatment to offenders.

Northampton sponsored a forensic peer support training about a year ago (15-18

graduates)

CJAB help purchase Live Scan machine to begin new procedures for tracking

Megan’s Law/Adam Walsh offenders. Collaboration between the Sheriff’s

Department and Adult Probation.

Shelter Plus Care V

CareerLink has distributed flyers that have forensically friendly lists of employers

NA and AA meeting throughout the county

County is working on a peer-run respite

This report can be used for the strategic plan for the PCCD planning grant for MH

reentry

D&A has a grant for transitional housing with a focus on veterans

42

Additional Priorities

Advocate for another mental health clinicians in areas of shortage (3 total; 0 high

priority)

o Jail, Re-entry, Provider walk ins

Increased focus on employment (2 total; 0 high priority)

o “more to life than a SS check”

More mental health training for law enforcement and MDJs (1 total; 0 high priority)

o Address stigma and fears;

o Skills to address issues concretely

Develop strategies to prioritize where we can make a difference (0)

Improve overall process for people who are incompetent to stand trial (0)

o Individuals stuck in jail due to this issue

Develop information sharing for team efforts (0)

o Including HIPAA

o Including releases from individual

Continue to improve agencies/systems communication (0)

Northampton County Priorities

Subsequent to the completion of the Cross-Systems Mapping exercise, the assembled stakeholders began to define specific areas of activity that could be mobilized to address the gaps and opportunities identified in the group discussion about the cross-systems map. Listed below are the priority areas identified by the workshop participants and the votes received for each proposed priority.

Top Priorities

1. Expand and improve continuity of care into and out of jail (17 total; 12 high priority)

Housing

a. Assessment, ID, Benefits, Strategies for information sharing, Strategies to pool

funds across systems, $ to pay ICM and ACT to go inside the prison, Raising

community awareness to facilitate and support successful transition to the

community, Educate inmates about available resources

2. Develop a Mental Health Court (11 total; 2 high priority)

3. Certified peer specialists into the jail (8 total; 3 high priority)

4. Expand housing options (8 total; 1 high priority)

a. Master leasing program

5. Start tracking progress (4 total; 0 high priority)

a. E.g. CIT, FACT

b. Standardize terms

43

Northampton County Action Plan

Priority: Moving Forward

Objective Action Step Who When

CoE to follow up

with deliverable

documents

1. Coe Will send map,

priorities, resource

guides, and

participant list

tomorrow

2. CoE will send a draft

of the full report

CoE to

Wendy

6/27/13

7/10/13

Next Reentry Coalition

July 10th

– MH

subcommittee

Lauren will

send this

group the

invitation

Judge is

attending the

next meeting

7/10/13

CJAB Quarterly

Priority Area 1: Expand and improve continuity of care into and out of jail (17 total; 12

high priority)

a. Housing

b. Assessment

c. Next steps

d. ID

e. Benefits

f. Strategies for information sharing

g. Consistent and accessible across systems

h. Strategies to pool funds across systems

i. $ to pay ICM and ACT to go inside the prison

j. Raising community awareness to facilitate and support successful transition to the

community

k. Educate inmates about available resources

Group Brainstorming


Aftercare meds Address formulary

differences

Are there liability issues

with sending folks out

44

with only 3 days of med?

Look at PrimeCare

contract when it comes up

again – incorporating

more med days into the

new contract

Medical Assistance

applications

Look at target population

for this

Address Identification

issue Change address prior to

discharge to jail address

Take a booking sheet

down to MA to get the

application started

Develop contacts within

DOT, MA, etc.

Discharge officer could

make an ID for folks that

have an address at the jail

Letter on jail letterhead

Probation could make an

ID with address

verification

Small Workgroup Planning

(Laura A., Mary, Celie, Kay, John)


1.1 Identification Issue Change address prior to

discharge – 666 Walnut

St

Getting them IDs –

Taking the booking to

Medical Assistance –

Head contact person in

organization

Discharge officer could

make an ID for them if

they had an address –

Start that way as

something little

Having an ID machine at

probation

Letter from the jail –

Discharge packet

Look at it at the

Mental Health

Reentry

Subcommittee

meetings

1.2 Medication Problem Worst case scenario – Is

it a liability - you are

putting their life in

danger

Policy to review it?

45

When the contract comes

out with PrimeCare – If

we can get it changed?

Getting it into the bid –

Cost-saving for tax

payers?

Priority Area 2: Develop a Mental Health Court (11 total; 2 high priority)

Group Brainstorming


Explore Veterans

Court Judge Smith; Iraq

veteran

D&A transitional

housing with a focus

on veterans

Jail asks about

military service at

admission – could

provide data

Talk to VJO from

Wilkes-Barre – Kim

Sapolis

Reach out to

Supreme Court

problem solving

court resources

(Karen Blackburn:

Problem Solving

Court Coordinator)

P. Karen Blackburn

Program Administrator-Problem

Solving Courts Program

Administrative Office of the

Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC)

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

1515 Market Street, Suite 1414

Philadelphia, PA 19102

215-560-6300, extension

6338

[email protected]

Explore MDJ

options E.g. Washington

County MDJ

diversion program

Explore MH Court DA interested in MH

Court

Build on track

record with FACT

team and DA

Present FACT data

at 2014 crime

summit (recidivism,

jail days saved [$],

savings from family

served [$],

counselors data on

D&A bed days

saved [$],

medications)

Collect data on MH


46

population

Explore use of Brief

Jail MH Screen

Look into observing

Lackawanna County

MH Court,

Montgomery County

MH Court

Engage DA and PD

in planning (this

would be a gain

from current FACT

program)

Also would get

increased impact and

serve more folks

than FACT


(Mike, Terry, Sheila, Brian)


2.1 A specialized court

– MH, VA,

Developmental

Programs, D&A

Cost effectiveness –

federal $ incentives

Info from tracking

Due process

advantages – judges,

PD, DA

Representatives

from other

functional

specialized courts

Iron out criminal

justice process at

this point –

preliminary hearing

lag at MDJ level

Consider victims

advocate input

Affirmative effects

of re-entry into the

community with a

specialized court

process

Jail system relief

Enhanced

community support

with services to

prevent recidivism,

which effects

increased safety in

the community

6 months

47

Discuss during

FACT meetings;

MH Subcommittee

meetings

Priority Area 3: Certified peer specialists into the jail (8 total; 3 high priority)

Group Brainstorming


Getting into the jail Contact Dave Lothian

(volunteer services

coordinator)

Explore volunteer services

Explore paid services

(county funding for

Amber: 10 hours/week)

Explore other counties’

use of forensic peers:

Contact Peerstar,

Recovery Edge, C.-CAC,

WRAP Groups

Group vs. individual

services?

Explore FPS across

intercepts Probation

Safe Harbor

D&A has a recovery

revolutions group that

goes in on Saturdays to

run a group

Getting into the jail Contact Dave Lothian

(volunteer services

coordinator)

Explore volunteer services

Explore paid services

(county funding for

Amber: 10 hours/week)

Explore other counties’

use of forensic peers:

Contact Peerstar,

Recovery Edge, C.-CAC,

WRAP Groups

Group vs. individual

services?


(Danny, Wendy, Amber, Donna, Brian B.)

Follow-Up Meeting: Under supervision – CPS Meeting


3.1 Get into the jail Call Dave L. (Jail Donna 2 weeks/less

48

Develop Relationships volunteer coordinator)

Requirements – Call

Dave for volunteers

Call Laura – Involve in

returning citizens

Amber goes to FACT –

Call Brian

Set up meeting with key

jail staff

Danny

Amber

Amber &

FACT

Amber &

Donna

2 weeks/less

This week

1 week

30 days

3.2 Provide education and

support/ provide hope Screening – For group

Screening for individuals

Tracking

Set-up forensic CPS

workers

FACT

On-going

Priority Area 4: Expand housing options (8 total; 1 high priority)

a. Master leasing program

Group Brainstorming


Master Leasing HealthChoices

Administrator

Regional Housing

Advisory Board – HUD

Funding

Affordable Permanent

housing Bridge subsidies

Explore grant funding

possibilities

Incorporate employment

Explore/approach Habitat

Landlord recruitment

(FACT members might be

a good selling point; a lot

of support)

Faith based communities:

Lehigh Conference of

Churches, Bethlehem

Moravians

VA

Victory House has a

veterans contract

Regional Housing

Coordinator on LHOT

(Mary Vilter)– has a

resource manual on

obtaining and maintaining

housing

49

Skill building group?


(Beth, Carl, John)

Follow-Up Meeting: HealthChoices Workgroup (Monthly)


4.1 Identify plans for

housing within the

county, what is already

out there, inform others

Speak with HealthChoices

regarding their plan for

housing

Inform this group of any

funded housing

Deb Nunes /

Beth will call

Beth – D&A

Wendy – MH

This week

(HealthChoices

monthly

meeting –

Bring it up at

next meeting)

Today or via

email

4.2 Develop forum to

invite landlords –

Develop agreements,

educate, lists of

landlords

Contact Housing

Authority for

input/resources

Contact CACLV / info

sharing – NAMI possibly

host forum?

John Pearce /

NAMI Andrea

Need to ID

contact there,

Janet (Exec

Director),

Andrea

(NAMI Board

Member)

Next NAMI

board meeting

Priority Area 5: Start tracking progress (4 total; 0 high priority)

a. E.g. CIT, FACT

b. Standardize terms (e.g. recidivism)

Group Brainstorming


Track progress on CIT Talk to 911 about tracking

CIT calls

Find ways to identify and

track CIT incidents

(police depts.)

Build on informal

contacts from CIT officers

Track progress on

FACT Compile existing

information into a report

Have year 1 already

Standardize measures Recidivism

Peer support in jail Recidivism

Engagement in services

Length of time in

treatment

Keeping appointments

Quality of life

50

Drexel survey

Self sufficiency?

Formal progress

reports 6 months?

Quarterly?


(Stephanie, Gary)

Follow-Up Meeting: CIT Advisory Meetings


5.1 Gather baseline data Gather monthly statistics

from the jail

o MH consumers

Talk to intake at the jail

Director of

Classification,

Pretrial

Services, &

Katrina

Monthly

5.2 Track CIT outcomes Tracking call incidents

Tracking officer injuries,

violent incidents, use of

force, referrals to

MH/Crisis (diversion)

Formalize debriefing

process for CIT incidents

with negative outcomes

911 center,

police

department,

crisis

CIT advisory

CIT advisory

Monthly

Quarterly

PRN

5.3 Peers Track length of stay with

peer services

QOL

o Housing

o Employment

o Income (disposable)

o Recidivism

Satisfaction Reports

Quarterly

Reports

5.4 Track FACT Continue keeping current

outcomes

Recidivism/Police

Contact or

Probation/Parole –

Uniform definition

provided by re-entry

coordinators

Engagement in treatment

Laura will

share that

information

(Weed &

Seed)

51

Conclusion

Participants in the Cross-Systems Mapping workshop showed much enthusiasm in working together to improve the continuum of resources available for people with severe mental illness and often co-occurring substance use disorders involved in the Northampton County criminal justice system. Northampton County is poised to tackle a number of critical issues that will greatly improve services for this group. The assembled stakeholders spent time gaining a greater understanding of their shared systems, as well as crafting strategies related to improving the collaborative infrastructure for the group and addressing the gaps and opportunities at each intercept.

Considerable work has already been undertaken to improve services for people with severe mental illness and often co-occurring substance use disorders involved in the Northampton County criminal justice system. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, specialized case management, the FACT team, and crisis services are some examples of current Northampton County initiatives. Northampton County has also developed some thoughtful data to begin to provide a better understanding of the issues being discussed. Local stakeholders participating in the Cross-Systems Mapping were clearly interested in building on current successes to better serve this population.

The expansion of the planning group to tackle the priorities established during the Cross-Systems Mapping workshop is an essential next step in a true systems change process. It will be important to create effective working relationships with other groups that did not attend the workshop, including local police jurisdictions, the Department of Veterans Affairs, local Magisterial District Judges, Adult Probation, and the Social Security Administration. Regular meetings should be held by this larger group to facilitate information sharing, planning, networking, development and coordination of resources, and problem solving.

Closing

Northampton County is fortunate to have a wide range of stakeholders across the mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice systems that have made significant efforts to understand and support the challenging issues discussed in this workshop. The Cross-Systems Mapping workshop gave these stakeholders a chance to develop a coordinated strategy to move forward with the identified priorities.

By reconvening and supporting the work of the group in coming months, it will be possible to maintain the momentum created during the Cross-Systems Mapping workshop and build on the creativity and drive of key local stakeholders. The Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence hopes to continue its relationship with Northampton County and to support its progress. Please visit the Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence website for more information, www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu.

http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/

52

Appendix A: Participant List

Last Name,

First Name Agency / Title

Street Address

City, State, Zip Phone E-Mail

Laura Accetta Easton Weed & Seed,

Coordinator 1201 Ferry St., Easton 610-438-2680 [email protected]

Stephanie Barnett Jamison

Jamison & Associates

Consulting, Lead

Consulting

121 Chestnut Hill Rd.,

Emmaus PA, 18049 484-903-8611

jamisonassociatesconsulting@gmai

l.com

Mark Bartholomew Dept. of Corrections,

Treatment Coordinator 666 Walnut St., Easton 610-923-4337 [email protected]

Sheila Bell Dept. of Corrections,

Case Manager 666 Walnut St., Easton 610-923-4430 [email protected]

Brian Buher NHS Act, Team Leader 3864 Adler Place,

Bethlehem 610-866-8331 [email protected]

Katrina Clancey Dept. of Corrections,

MH Clinician 666 Walnut St., Easton 610-923-4395 [email protected]








53

Lt. Darlene Coia NC Sheriff Dept.,

Lieutenant

669 Washington St.,

Easton 610-559-3785 [email protected]

Kay Ebeling N.C. Drug & Alcohol,

Case Manager

520 E. Broad St.,


Danny Estrella CPS, LVACT 601 E. Broad St.,


Terrence H. Geiger Dept. of Corrections,

Field Officer 135 S. Union St., Easton 610-923-4414 [email protected]

Mike Gorzelic N. C. MH, Case

Manager

520 E. Broad St.,

Bethlehem 610-997-5866

[email protected]

g

John Harman

Dept. of Corrections,

Classification

Coordinator

666 Walnut St., Easton 610-923-4330 [email protected]

Wendy Heatley N. C. MH, Deputy MH

Administrator

520 E. Broad St.,


Kathryn Johansen N.C. Pretrial Svcs.,

Pretrial Officer 105 S. Union St., Easton 610-559-6830

[email protected]

g











54

Albert B. Jordan, Jr. Xerox/N.C., Director of

Information Svcs.

669 Washington St.,


Amber Karom

Recovery Partnership,

Certified Peer

Specialist

70 W. North St.,


Kathleen M. Kelly N. C. MH/EI/DP,

Administrator

520 E. Broad St.,


Donna Keutmann Recovery Partnership,

Peer Services Director

70 W. North St.,


Carl E. Kist Magellan, Care

Manager Supervisor

One W. Broad St.,


Ross Marcus

N.C.H.S.

Administrative,

Director of H.S.

669 Washington St.,


Elizabeth Miller N.C. Drug & Alcohol,

Asst. Administrator

520 E. Broad St.,


John Pearce NAMI, Family

Member

802 W. Broad St.,

Bethlehem

610-882-2102 [email protected]









Gary Ruschman N.C. IRES, Director 45 N. Second St., Easton 610-559-3278 [email protected]

Laura Savenelli Family Answers, N.C.

Re-entry Coordinator

1201 Ferry St., 1st floor,


Greg Smith NC Sheriff’s

Department, Deputy

669 Washington St.,

Easton

Celie Walton NAMI, Family

Member

802 W. Broad St.,


Brian Watson N. C. MH, Supervisor 520 E. Broad St.,


Mary Williams Dept. of Corrections,

Case Manager 666 Walnut St., Easton 610-923-4326

[email protected]

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