February 29, 2008

 

In November 2007, the Board appropriated $500,000 from restricted contingency to fund “Recovery Solutions”, the service managed by Area Mental Health (AMH) to reduce jail recidivism for those with mental illness. Recovery Solutions is designed to help people in the Mecklenburg County jail who could be released to a mental health treatment program.

 

Funding provided by the Board has been used to establish a 14-bed residential stabilization function that began January 1, 2008. This unit admitted its first consumer on January 11, 2008. Currently, there are seven people in treatment, with four awaiting court disposition for treatment. Since this is a new treatment service, it is essential to admit new consumers in a deliberate manner to maximize effectiveness and success.

 

Chronic offenders are being identified through the AMH jail diversion staff member in the jail, the Public Defender’s Office, and the Mental Health Court. The Residential Stabilization Committee (comprising staff from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Mecklenburg Open Door, AMH and the Public Defenders Office) meets every other week to discuss new cases, concerns and to collaborate on effective ways to address this population.

 

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Committee has been working with other CIT programs across the state to develop a CIT curriculum for Mecklenburg County. CIT teams are designed to train law enforcement officers how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness and to take appropriate action based upon the identified protocols and philosophy. In early March 2008, four officers will attend CIT training in Wake County along with representatives from AMH and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

 

For more details, contact AMH Director Grayce Crockett, (704) 336-8638 or email.