Columbia County -...

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

Columbia County Report of the Cross-Systems Mapping Workshop

November 5th & 6th, 2014

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

Columbia County, PA Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence Report, November 2014

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Facilitator

Patricia A. Griffin, PhD, Center of Excellence Senior Consultant Nancy Wieman, MS, Center of Excellence Consultant

Other Support

Katy Winckworth-Prejsnar, MPH, Center of Excellence Project Coordinator

Shervin Bazmi, MS, Center of Excellence Research Specialist

Center of Excellence Staff

Shervin Bazmi, MS David DeMatteo, JD, PhD

Sarah Filone, MA Patricia Griffin, PhD Kirk Heilbrun, PhD Casey LaDuke, MS

Edward P. Mulvey, PhD Carol Schubert, MPH

Katy Winckworth-Prejsnar, MPH


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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

Columbia County, Pennsylvania Cross Systems Mapping

Columbia County Cross Systems Map ............................................................................................ 8

Columbia County Cross Systems Narrative..................................................................................... 9

Intercept I: Law Enforcement / Emergency Services ........................................................ 11

Intercept II: Initial Detention / Initial Court Hearing ........................................................... 17

Intercept III: Jails / Courts ................................................................................................. 19

Intercept IV: Re-Entry........................................................................................................ 22

Intercept V: Community Corrections / Community Support .............................................. 25

Columbia County Action Planning

Columbia County Priorities ............................................................................................................ 31

Columbia County Action Plan ........................................................................................................ 33

Conclusions and Summary

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 43

Closing ........................................................................................................................................... 43


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List of Appendices

Appendix A – Participant List ......................................................................................................... 44

Appendix B – Youthful Offender Program Process ....................................................................... 51

Appendix C – Columbia County Housing/Homeless Tracking Sheet ............................................ 52


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Columbia 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 Columbia County, Pennsylvania, on November 3rd and 4th, 2014, conducted at Bloomsburg University. Columbia County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) 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 Columbia County achieve its goals.

Background

Columbia County CJAB 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, the Center of Excellence was requested to provide assistance to Columbia County with: Creation of a map indicating points of interface among all relevant Columbia 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 Columbia County through a Community Collaboration Questionnaire and gathering of documents relevant to the target population. The participants in the workshops included 42 individuals representing multiple stakeholder systems including mental health, substance abuse treatment, human services, corrections, advocates, family members, consumers, law enforcement, and the courts. A complete list of participants is available in Appendix A (pg. 42) of this document. Patricia A. Griffin, PhD, and Nancy Wieman, MS, facilitated the workshop sessions. Shervin Bazmi, MS, 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 both print and electronic formats. 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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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:

Columbia County Criminal Justice Advisory Committees (CJABs) o CJAB partner with local Housing Authorities, Housing Shelters, etc.

Drug and DUI Treatment Courts

AGAPE Love from above to Our Community (faith-based organization) provides services in the jail and community

o Housing, employment and transportation for inmates o Transportation for job interviews

Consumer/Family Involvement in the Workshops Peer support specialists were represented by David Lilley, adding valuable information to

the discussion, especially regarding certified peer support services in Columbia County.

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

decision makers. Opening remarks by President Judge, Honorable Thomas A. James, Jr., set the stage and established a clear message as to the importance of the workshop. Richard Beach, Administrator CMSU, 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 Columbia County in preparation for the workshop.

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Data Center at Penn State Harrisburg secured federal Statistical Justice System funding from the Bureau of Justice Statistics to implement a digital dashboard system. The dashboards track key metrics from the county justice system including: prison indicators, courts indicators, juvenile indicators, probation/parole indicators, law enforcement indicators. Some information presented in this report was obtained from the PCCD digital dashboard system. For more information or to access the digital dashboard, please see http://www.pacjabdash.net/

http://www.pacjabdash.net/


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Columbia County Cross Systems Map


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Columbia 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 Columbia 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 As of the 2010 census, the Columbia County population was 67,295. Its county seat is Bloomsburg. The county was created on March 22, 1813, from part of Northumberland County and named for Columbia, a poetic name for the United States that alludes to Christopher Columbus.

The County has been building a continuum of criminal justice and mental/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.

Columbia County Criminal Justice Advisory Board The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and its Office of Criminal Justice System Improvements (OCJSI) are committed to encouraging and working with county leadership in their efforts to improve county justice systems. Criminal Justice Advisory Boards (CJABs) are the primary means of achieving this improvement goal. CJABs use a collaborative approach to formulate justice planning and innovative problem solving. PCCD and OCJSI assist CJABs in every phase of development including providing start-up grants, strategic planning assistance and project implementation support. The Columbia County Criminal Justice Advisory Board is committed to improving the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of the Criminal Justice System to establish a safer and more productive community. The Columbia CJAB has been active since 2004. The Board consists of many individuals involved directly and indirectly in the county’s criminal justice system. The purpose of CJAB is to organize and share information and ideas and to promote collaboration for the improvement

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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of the county’s criminal justice system. The CJAB is currently chaired by President Judge Thomas A. James, Jr. “The mission of the Columbia County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) is to provide a continuing forum and formally governed structure in which public policy makers collaborate to evaluate, analyze, plan, and recommend action to improve the effectiveness, uniformity and efficiency of the Criminal Justice System in Columbia County. The Columbia County Criminal Justice Advisory Board is committed to improving the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of the Criminal Justice System to establish a safer and more productive community.” The Columbia County CJAB has several standing committees that include:

Executive Committee Chairperson: Thomas A. James, Jr., President Judge

Chris Young, Don Coleman, Barbara Warunek, Joan Reimiller

Law Enforcement Chairpersons: Thomas Leipold & Ken Strish

Dan Lynn, Ray Klingler, Roger VanLoan, Mario Diana, Tim Chamberlain, Frances Fraley, Jen Frantz, Brandy Hampton, Harry Martenas, Fred Hunsinger, Rusty Lawton

Alternative Sentencing/Reentry Chairpersons: Donald Coleman & Barbara Warunek

Judge James, Tami Kline, Warden Campbell, Dave Kovach, Doug Brewer, Heather Feldhaus, Rich Beach, Cynthia Howey, Rich Kisner, Barbara Silvetti, Eileen Chapman, Ginny Crake

Housing Chairperson: Judge Gary Norton

Rich Kisner, Weston Brehm, Barbara Gorrell, Joe Baker, Don Coleman, Barbara Warunek, Becky Stender, Jennifer Dunkleberger

Education/Communication Chairpersons: Allison Williams & Cos Curry

Richard Ridgeway, April Miller, RJ Norce, Ashley Mensch, Cindy Jenkins, Skip Mordan, Denise LaBuda, Gail Keller, Eileen Chapman, Amy Melchiorre, Patrick Sharkey

Columbia County provides an extensive and detailed network of care website for individuals, families and agencies concerned with behavioral health. It provides information about behavioral health services, laws, and related news, as well as communication tools and other feature is available at: http://columbia.pa.networkofcare.org/mh/

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


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Intercept I: Law Enforcement / Emergency Services

Columbia County Communication Center/9-1-1 Columbia County 911 dispatch is operated by Columbia County Communication Center and provides emergency dispatch to all local jurisdictions in Columbia County. If 911 receives a suicide call, then the local police and the Columbia Montour Snyder Union Counties of Central Pennsylvania Service System (CMSU) are contacted.

Law Enforcement Columbia County is served by 17 municipal law enforcement districts and 1 state police barrack that provide law enforcement services for the entire county. Bloomsburg and Berwick Police Departments are the largest jurisdictions in the county, while Main Township and Greenwood Township are the smallest.

For more information, see http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/counties/columbia/lawEnforcement_columbia.html

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. Columbia County is served by State Police Troop N, Bloomsburg, which also serves the counties of Monroe, Luzerne, and Carbon.

Sheriff’s Office The Columbia County Sheriff's office performs functions in support of the county, its residents and local law enforcement agencies. These functions include: firearms applications, serving warrants, civil processes, services of Protections From Abuse (PFA) orders, courthouse security, and prisoner transport. For more information, see http://www.sheriffofcolumbiacounty.com/index.html.

Columbia Montour Snyder Union Counties of Central Pennsylvania Service System (CMSU) CMSU provides a wide range of mental health, intellectual disability and drug & alcohol services to the citizens of Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union Counties in Pennsylvania.

The CMSU Crisis/Emergency System has provided crisis services in Columbia County for over 30 years. CMSU provides telephone crisis services through Telephone Access Program (TAP) Line (1-800-222-9016), a crisis response hotline that operates 24/7 in Columbia County. The TAP line has the technology available to co-respond with 911 to crisis calls. CMSU also provides mobile crisis response across Columbia, Montour, Snyder, and Union Counties. During normal working hours this includes several crisis workers (also trained delegates); during off hours, there is one crisis worker on call for Columbia County. A crisis worker can meet an officer

http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/counties/columbia/lawEnforcement_columbia.html

http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/counties/columbia/lawEnforcement_columbia.html

http://www.sheriffofcolumbiacounty.com/index.html


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or individual in crisis in the community or at the local hospital. Crisis workers also work with municipal police departments and hospitals to respond to crisis situations in these settings. All crisis workers have been extensively trained in responding to psychiatric crisis.

Drug & Alcohol Services through CMSU include: inpatient detoxification, inpatient rehabilitation, a Halfway House, partial hospitalization, outpatient counseling, treatment programs designed specifically for pregnant women and women with children, and information regarding HIV/AIDS. Services can be accessed through a Drug & Alcohol Case Manager. Additionally, if an individual is in need of substance abuse services when calling the TAP Line, they will be directed to a D&A representative via phone or in-person (during regular business hours). CMSU also provides training for emergency room staff regarding drug and alcohol overdose incidences. For more information on CMSU services, see Intercept V.

If an individual is not violent to others, not suicidal, and not intoxicated, CMSU can provide temporary respite services.

Geisinger Hospital Geisinger provides mental health and psychiatric services for all age groups from adolescents to geriatrics. Among the programs offered are:

• Quick, efficient admission process 24/7 • Patients 15 years and older accepted • Psychiatrist available on a daily basis • One-on-one patient counseling • Treatment team meetings 5 days per week • Recovery oriented principles • High staff to client ratio • Relapse Prevention Team Meetings • Substance abuse education • Designated county 302 triage site • Language translators • Ask about transportation services

Admissions are confidential and may be made by professionals as well as by individuals concerned about themselves or others. Hospitalization means patient care is provided through multiple professionals who comprise the treatment team. In the safe environment at Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital, this team consists of the following individuals:

• Patient and family • Board Certified Psychiatrists (MD or DO) • Nursing staff 24/7 • Hospitalists • Caseworkers • Licensed therapist • Activities Director • Physician’s assistants • Recreational therapist • Occupational therapist • Mental Health Technicians

For more information, see http://www.bloomhealth.net/services/psychiatric-services.php

http://www.bloomhealth.net/services/psychiatric-services.php


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Berwick Hospital Center In addition to providing emergency medicine to the county, Berwick Hospital Center has developed a specialized geriatric inpatient behavioral health unit. Behavioral Health Services provides short-term psychiatric treatment for those aged 55 years and older. For more information, see http://www.commonwealthhealth.net/locations/berwick-hospital-center

Danville State Hospital (Out of County) Danville State Hospital, a long-term psychiatric facility, is located one mile northeast of Danville, Pennsylvania. Individuals admitted to Danville State Hospital must come directly from an inpatient hospitalization at a community hospital. Admission referrals from the general public are not accepted. If the treating physician at the community hospital determines that the individual requires longer-term psychiatric treatment, a referral is initiated by the social worker at that facility.

Referrals are accepted from the hospital’s service area, which currently encompass the following counties: Columbia, Centre, Clinton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder and Union Counties.

Authorization for admission to Danville State Hospital requires:

1. The approval of the appropriate County Mental Health designee from the county where the person resides, and

2. An involuntary commitment by court order under Section 304 or 305 of the Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976.

3. Voluntary commitments are acceptable, however, must come through the County Mental Health Program and have their approval.

For more information, see http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/foradults/statehospitals/danvillestatehospital/

Detoxification Services (Out of County) Non-hospital inpatient detoxification services are provided to Columbia County residents by White Deer Run, located in Allenwood (855-231-1198). This facility is located outside of the county and referrals for this program are generally run through the CMSU Crisis/Emergency System. For more information, see http://wdr-allenwood.crchealth.com/inpatient-detox/.

Victims Services The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Victim Resources website provides the following victim services resources for Columbia County. Further information can be found at: http://pcv.pccd.pa.gov/available-services/Pages/Interactive-Map.aspx#.VTFfHUtWvKC

Victim Service

Program

Services Provided Phone Number

& Email

Beyond Violence Advocacy Assistance Filing Compensation Claims Bilingual Direct Services Counseling Information & Referral

Support Groups

570-759-0298

beyondviolence@v

erizon.net

Columbia County Juvenile Probation

Advocacy Case Status

570-389-5658

http://www.commonwealthhealth.net/locations/berwick-hospital-center

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/foradults/statehospitals/danvillestatehospital/

http://wdr-allenwood.crchealth.com/inpatient-detox/

http://pcv.pccd.pa.gov/available-services/Pages/Interactive-Map.aspx#.VTFfHUtWvKC

mailto:[email protected]



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Victim Services

Court Accompaniment Courtroom Orientation Escape Notification Restitution Victim Compensation Assistance Victim Impact Statements Victim Rights Notification

MADD -

Northeastern

Affiliate Office

Advocacy Assistance Filing Compensation Claims Counseling

Information & Referral

610-372-6233

maddnorthcentralp

[email protected]

The Women's

Center, Inc.

Advocacy Assistance Filing Compensation Claims Counseling Emergency Financial Assistance Information & Referral Interpreter Service Language Line Shelter/Safe House

Sign Language

570-784-6632

womenctr1@verizo

n.net

In addition, Columbia 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 are, therefore, subjective rather than a majority consensus.

Identified Gaps

8 years since CMSU provided behavioral health (BH) training for law enforcement (LE)

Admissions process at the local hospitals takes a while (draw blood, pre-cert for community care behavioral health (CCBH))

LE may sit for hours in emergency room (ER) - Security staff availability varies by hospital

Probation typically spends about 3-6 hours waiting in the ER with probationers with a mental health (MH) crisis

- In some cases, staff from probation were told they could leave and when they came back the individual was no longer there

911 staff do not have any MH training

No detox unit in the county - Detox consumers go to the intensive care unit (ICU) first - If they are detoxing in the hospital, probation needs to “babysit” for days

Many “repeat costumers” - Police Departments (PDs), State Police, and CMSU Crisis Line see

repeat MH and substance abuse (SA) individuals (aka. frequent users)

Concerns about cost and training time for additional specialized police response training

Differences in how LE departments handle 302s – issues with “show-up”

No peer-lines or warm-lines in the county - CMSU started a Warmline a few years ago (using reinvestment dollars)

and was not successful at sustaining it

Synthetic drug usage has increased dramatically over the last 3 or 4 years – alcohol use surpassed by drug use

- Examples: prescription drugs, heroin, and synthetic marijuana - Disproportionately younger populations (20-28-year-olds) without

supports

Manifestations of substance use (e.g., depression)

For LE personnel, language barriers are gradually increasing - For MH personnel, they only have 1 Spanish speaking counselor

Need to build relationships more systematically

No local crisis residential programs

Challenges with people with co-occurring disorders - Changing demographics: 18-28-year-olds - Takes longer to figure out primary diagnosis - Increased impulses

Long distance to shelters

Identified Opportunities

Explore cross-systems training (CMSU & LE) - Possible 911 and crisis staff “sit-along” training


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- Possible cross-system methods to identify repeat consumers (between PDs, State Police, and CMSU)

County interested in specialized police response training

CMSU has an instructor available for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training

Training for officers to fill 302 petitions

State police have some specialized training regarding MH (e.g., autism, etc.)

Dually trained Crisis Workers/Delegates

D&A has on-call workers/connect to MH on-call workers

Include Hospital and 911 staff in the future collaborations/discussions

TAP Line has two lines so they can keep an individual in crisis on the phone to contact 911

Develop a mechanism to have both 911 and LE on the same phone line?

Access to crisis residential (not utilized fully)

Number of bath salts cases have dropped over the last year

Informal collaboration but no structural systems in place

“Hot-spotting” (http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/features-and-articles/Brenner11.html)

CMSU D&A provides/collaborates with ER on training and education

Proactive identification of repeat customers

CMSU offers RESPITE services

http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/features-and-articles/Brenner11.html

http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/features-and-articles/Brenner11.html


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Intercept II: Initial Detention / Initial Court Hearing

Arrest and Initial Detention When an individual is arrested in Columbia County by any of the municipal police departments, he/she is typically initially detained and processed at the local police departments (temporary holding areas). If an individual is arrested by the state police, he/she is initially processed at the barracks and then transported to Columbia County Prison. If there is an underlying mental or medical health issue, then he/she will be transferred to the local hospital emergency room.

Preliminary Arraignment The Twenty-Sixth Judicial District of Pennsylvania has a compliment of four Magisterial District Courts within its boundaries, each overseen by an elected Magisterial District Judge (MDJ). In Columbia County the Magisterial District Judges are the Honorable Richard Knecht (District Court 26-3-02), Honorable Russell Lawton (District Court 26-2-01), Honorable Craig Long (District Court 26-3-03), and Honorable Doug Brewer (District Court 26-3-01).

If arrested during daytime business hours, a defendant is brought to the local MDJ’s office. If arrested during off-hours, the preliminary arraignment is completed with the MDJ on-call via videoconferencing capability in the jail.

During the preliminary arraignment, bail and a preliminary hearing date is set. If the defendant posts bail or is released on his/her own recognizance (ROR), he/she is released from custody. If the defendant does not post bail, he/she is transported to the Columbia County Prison. Informally, if the MDJ believes that an individual is in need of mental health treatment, the judge will contact CMSU.


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Identified Gaps

No central booking - Are we (Columbia County) big enough to have central booking?

Not easy for state police to get to the Magistrate hearings (often must travel far – as much as 30 miles)

No MH training for MDJs


Public defenders will treat a MH illness like a physical illness i.e. if hospitalization is needed (before preliminary arraignment)

MDJs are sometimes aware of the repeat offenders

Ad hoc situations with veteran defendants


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Intercept III: Jails / Courts

Columbia County Prison Columbia County Prison was originally built in 1877 for a population of 50 prisoners. A major renovation and expansion was completed in 1995, allowing for a population of approximately 150. Recently, additional beds have been added and the capacity is 210 inmates. Columbia County Prison houses male and female pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates up to one day less than five years. Additionally, they house male and female federal inmates. Currently, the prison census is 105 county inmates and 106 out of county inmates (US Marshal US Probation Montour, Sullivan, Schuylkill, Elk County). According to the prison warden, there are roughly 41 to 72 inmates on psychotropic medicine; however, only about 10 of those individuals have a serious mental illness (SMI) diagnosis. Lastly, the prison processes an estimated 20 to 25 admissions per month.

Through Columbia County Probation Department funding, the prison utilizes the Risk and Needs Triage (RANT®) tool. The software immediately generates easily understandable reports sorting inmates into one of four risk/needs quadrants with direct implications for suitable correctional dispositions and behavioral health treatment. For more information, see http://www.tresearch.org/tools/for-courts/rant/about-rant/

A CMSU forensic crisis worker/case manager is available to respond to the Columbia County Prison 24 hours per day, and the forensic crisis worker is dedicated to providing services in the Columbia County Prison. The forensic crisis worker/case manager comes in to the prison to meet with inmates twice a week. The forensic crisis worker/case manager does treatment inside the jail, providing individual counseling. The jail provides D&A services through a full-time D&A counselor. Additionally, a psychiatrist comes in once a month and is on-call if needed more often. If an inmate needs psychotropic meds, the forensic case manager comes in to do an assessment and then will contact the psychiatrist for a follow-up. Lastly, a medical doctor comes in twice a week, and a licensed practical nurse (LPN) nurse works inside the prison.

Various programs are available to the inmate population based upon their classification that include: D&A Counseling; Alcoholic Anonymous meetings; Life Skills; Parenting Classes; GED; and numerous religious classes.

Courts The 26th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas is a trial court of general jurisdiction handling all civil and criminal matters. The 26th Judicial District includes Columbia County and is served by a two-judge Judicial District (Honorable Thomas A. James, Jr, President Judge, and Honorable Gary Norton).

Drug & DUI Treatment Court The Drug & DUI Treatment Court, partially funded through a grant secured from the PA Department of Transportation and recently PCCD, started in October 2009 to serve as an

http://www.tresearch.org/tools/for-courts/rant/about-rant/


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alternative to incarceration for non-violent, drug-dependent, offenders. Stakeholders include CMSU (including a dedicated case manager), the District Attorney’s Office, and Columbia County Probation. The court currently has a caseload of 40 defendants. The Drug Treatment Court has been formally accredited through the Problem Solving Courts Program Office, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The treatment court also utilizes the RANT® tool.

Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) The Columbia County Court of Common Pleas utilizes the statewide ARD program specifically for first-time non-violent offenses, typically DUI cases.

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 an ARD program are evaluated by CMSU and placed under supervision, by the Columbia County Adult Probation & Parole department. The maximum period of supervision for someone on ARD is two years. If the defendant 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.

Youthful Offenders Program (YOP) The Youthful Offenders Program targets non-violent, first time, offenders for offenses that might include drug possession, petty theft, shoplifting, etc. Individuals must enter a not-guilty plea by reporting to the District Magistrate on the underage alcohol violation and request a summary trial date. As part of their involvement in the Youthful Offenders Plea, they will take part in an alcohol education course. This course totals 12 hours and is offered weekends on Saturday and Sunday in the Bloomsburg area. It is the defendant’s responsibility to make an immediate application with full payment to CMSU Drug and Alcohol Program. For more information on the YOP process, see Appendix C.

Columbia County Victim Witness Program The Columbia County Victim Witness Program out of the District Attorney’s Office is a free program dedicated to assisting all Crime Victims with the rights and service to which they are entitled under the Pennsylvania Crime Victims Bill of Rights and the standards set forth by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The Victim Witness Coordinator works with victims from time of arrest onward to help explain the criminal justice process, explain sentences handed down by the judge, guide an individual to victim resources, help with restitution, and serves as the liaison between probation/parole and the victim. Victims of Crime who are in need of assistance in Columbia County can contact the Victim Witness Coordinator (570-389-5658).


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Identified Gaps

Some individuals who are eligible for treatment court linger in jail too long – need referrals earlier in the system (Intercept II)

Public defenders are all part-time in the county

Montour County inmates sometimes come from state hospital (if they receive new criminal charges while hospitalized; e.g., assault staff at the state hospital)

Difference between the definition of serious mental illness (SMI) used by the jail and the definition used by the state

Forensic state hospital waiting list is a big issue

If someone in jail meets 302 requirements, they usually do not 302 the consumer (they usually 304 them)

- They can 302 someone to Torrance State Hospital for a 302 evaluation to be done there, but if Torrance determines that the consumer does not meet the requirement, then s/he needs to be brought back to Columbia County

Drug Court docket individuals have strong addictions compared to the DUI Court docket


Flexible use of guidelines for sentencing

Received broad based community support for the development of treatment court

LE are referring people for treatment court

Considering setting up a BH track of Treatment Court

Forensic Peer Support across Intercepts 3, 4, and 5

Veteran Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist occasionally goes into the jail

CMSU/D&A is meeting with the VJO so that they are aware about what services they provide – linkage and resources

Jail has a D&A counselor – she is able to identify people early (almost upon incarceration)

Other counties pay $70/day to place their inmates in this jail – which helps to off-set general jail costs

Over the last several years, there has been a decrease in inmate census by about 30 – 40 inmates due to the informal and formal diversionary efforts of the county


22

Intercept IV: Re-Entry

Reentry Services The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) implemented a pilot program in 2012 in partnership with the Department of Public Welfare, Single County Authority, local County Assistance Offices and local criminal justice officials designed to increase offender access to needed addiction treatment services. The pilot included a drug and alcohol assessment completed at the jail and an application for Medical Assistance (MA) submission prior to release for those in need of treatment, so that MA can be started at time for release for MA eligible offenders. The county assistance office goes into the jail to complete the COMPASS (online MA application) process for identified individuals. Columbia County was part of this pilot program and continues to implement the program to date.

The CMSU forensic case manager coordinates all reentry services for all inmates that have a SMI diagnosis.

A Therapeutic Reentry Program is planned to begin January 2015, modeled from therapeutic communities. It will target non-violent offenders in need of D&A services and will include pretrial and post-trial inmates. If an inmate has a co-occurring diagnosis, he/she will be considered for participation on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans Services

Columbia County is also served by the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, located at 1111 East End Boulevard in Wilkes-Barre with business hours (Phone: 570-824-3521 or 877-928-2621). Individuals can also reach the VA toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM ET, Monday-Friday.

The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center (http://www.wilkes-barre.va.gov/index.asp) has a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, Kim Sapolis Lacey, to coordinate diversion services for veterans in the criminal justice system (570-824-3521 or [email protected]).

Columbia County has a local office in Bloomsburg located at 11 West Main Street with business hours from 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Individuals can call Bridget Klinger at 570-387-6501 option 2 or email at [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 (http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/documents/COE%20Resource%20Guide%20Template%206-14-13%20%20REVISED.pdf)

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



http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/documents/COE%20Resource%20Guide%20Template%206-14-13%20%20REVISED.pdf

http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/documents/COE%20Resource%20Guide%20Template%206-14-13%20%20REVISED.pdf


23

Columbia County Assistance Office The Columbia County Assistance Office provides assistance and a range of services for residents of Columbia County. The Columbia County Assistance Office is located at 27 East Seventh Street in Bloomsburg and can be reached at 877-211-1322 (toll free) or 570-387-4200.

For more information, see http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/findfacilsandlocs/countyassistanceofficecontactinformation/. State Prison Re-entry Service providers in Columbia County receive a roster of county residents in state correctional institutions on the mental health roster to assist in re-entry planning. This information is sent periodically to CMSU (roughly three times a year) and the forensic workers follow up with these individuals upon release.

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/findfacilsandlocs/countyassistanceofficecontactinformation/


24

Identified Gaps

COMPASS is challenging for some elderly populations

Various opinions about MA reinstatement process - Not always reinstated quickly – can’t afford medication - 3 days of medication upon release - MA is often not reinstated in time to

fill prescription - State issue: suspension of MA benefits vs. termination upon incarceration

Unpredictable releases from jail – hard for CMSU to track down some individuals - Burdens relationship between CMSU and jail

No forensic peer support specialists in the county – lack of MA fundability within the jail

Inconsistent mental health roaster from DOC

Need to connect with VJO across all intercepts


Therapeutic Re-Entry Community in the Jail planned for January start date

Include local VA moving forward

Jail, D&A, and CAO have a good working relationships

Columbia was part of the MA Pilot Program – working very well and the benefits are being reinstated when they are released

- Filling in MA applications (COMPASS) earlier than release date

Jail has been considering increasing the number of days of aftercare meds

Weekly criminal justice meeting – currently jail and probation – can bring in CMSU to this group

Could use a forensic peer support specialist as part of the reentry process or probation/parole

- CMSU is working towards a per diem forensic peer support specialist - Had two trained forensic peers, but one moved out of the area and one

passed away

Differentiate/prioritize individuals with a SMI

Add CMSU to the table each month – better coordination includes aftercare planning - Meet toward end of the month to plan for next month’s release dates

Increase VJO connection/involvement - Can provide:

Training for law enforcement

Resources

Will help jail and probation

The county assistance office could complete the COMPASS process for individuals with SMI (not only for individuals with treatment needs for addiction)


25

Intercept V: Community Corrections / Community Support

Columbia County Probation & Parole The purpose of the Columbia County Adult Probation Department is the delivery of correctional programming into related community supervision and operations as deemed necessary for the protection of society and the rehabilitation of adult offenders. The probation office employs eight probation officers and two additional staff members.

The Department provides the following programs and specialized services:

Treatment Court – Two officers are assigned to monitor treatment court defendants.

ARD – One officer is assigned an ARD caseload.

Community Service Program – The Intermediate Punishment Officer maintains a list of participating agencies and refers offenders to appropriate agencies. Once enrolled, compliance with meeting the required community service hours is monitored by the assigned probation officer.

Electronic Monitoring Program – The Department uses a system that has the capability of blood alcohol testing. The system takes a picture of the offender as he blows into the machine that electronically measures the blood alcohol level. The results are faxed to the probation department. The service is provided by iSECUREtrak and is funded by assessments fees from the offenders. The program is primarily used for intermediate punishment cases and sex offender cases. Sex offenders are placed on active Global Positioning System (GPS) through Secure Alert.

Sex Offender Program - One officer is assigned sex offender cases. The program includes electronic monitoring and polygraph testing. The officer ensures compliance with Megan’s Law requirements.

For more information, see http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/county_probation_services/17308

Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole Parole supervision in Columbia County is provided by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole out of the Scranton District Office. For more information, see http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/.

Columbia Montour Snyder Union Counties of Central Pennsylvania Service System The Columbia Montour Snyder Union Counties of Central Pennsylvania Service System (CMSU) provides a wide range of mental health, intellectual disability and drug & alcohol services to the citizens of Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union Counties in the

http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/county_probation_services/17308

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


26

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Each year, CMSU and its network of providers serve over 4,000 people. Their mission is to participate actively in a community-wide partnership to support the residents of Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union Counties in achieving independence and personal development in order to enhance their quality of life. To qualify for services within the CMSU system, individuals must live within the boundaries of Columbia, Montour, Snyder or Union Counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Individuals experiencing behavioral health issues can call CMSU Base Service Unit (570-275-4962). They are then transferred to a triage person who will schedule an appointment as soon as possible to assess the extent of the problem and recommend appropriate treatment. CMSU provides the following behavioral health services:

Mental Health Services Drug and Alcohol

Services

Intake Vocational Support Inpatient Detoxification

Assessment & Referral Assistance

Consumer Support Services Inpatient Rehabilitation

Case Management Outpatient Halfway House

Residential Partial Hospitalization Partial Hospitalization

Nursing Inpatient Outpatient Counseling

Drop-In Centers Intensive Case Management Treatment Programs Designed Specifically for

Pregnant Women and Women with Children

Children's After-School Program

Family Based Program

School-Based Mental Health Services

Resource Coordination Program

Information Regarding HIV/AIDS

Student Assistance Program

Crisis Program

Psychosocial Psychiatric Services

Rehabilitation

For more information, see http://www.cmsu.org/.

White Deer Run (Out of County) White Deer Run, Inc., operates a network of behavioral health care facilities throughout Pennsylvania. The admissions process into White Deer Run begins with a complete assessment of the individual’s treatment needs, followed by a funding coverage assessment. Admissions are conducted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

White Deer Run – Allenwood is an inpatient facility located at 360 White Deer Road in Allenwood (Phone: 800-255-2335). White Deer Run – Allenwood offers non-hospital based

http://www.cmsu.org/


27

detoxification and rehabilitation—including Buprenorphine Detox and Vivitrol Treatment—as well as specialty groups that focus on a variety of topics such as relapse prevention, co-occurring disorders, coping skills, life skills development, men’s and women’s issues, a LGB group, an African-American group, and continuing care planning.

White Deer Run of Lewisburg is an outpatient facility located at 115 Farley Circle in Lewisburg (Phone: 570-522-0873 or 877-907-6237). Services include chemical dependency assessment and referral, group and individual counseling, and intensive outpatient treatment. White Deer Run of Lewisburg also supports several certified recovery specialists. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm (Saturdays and evenings by appointment only).

Housing

Columbia County Human Services - Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) HAP’s purpose is to provide services to persons who are homeless or near homeless. HAP provides rental assistance and/or emergency shelter. Clients must demonstrate that with intervention services provided by HAP they would be able to meet their basic needs in the immediate and near future. Clients are required to be homeless or near homeless, have a sustainable income sufficient to pay rent in the future or must have reasonable expectations for sufficient income within 30 days of agreement and be income eligible.

Columbia/Montour Homeless Task Force/LHOT This coalition of housing and service providers was organized to resolve local housing issues, including housing for people with disabilities.

Homeless Taskforce The taskforce is a collaboration between Columbia County Housing Authority, Columbia- Montour Homelessness Task Force and researchers from Bucknell University and Lycoming College. The taskforce will identify, gather and evaluate existing patterns of homelessness and housing insecurity. Researchers will report on the current situation and collaborate on a long-term plan to better measure and track homelessness in rural Pennsylvania. The taskforce developed a tracking sheet in collaboration with Bloomsburg University to determine factors associated with homelessness (e.g., MH, SA, legal issues, etc.). For this tracking sheet see, Appendix D.

Employment Services

Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Rehab The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis. The OVR counselor, during face-to-face interviews, assists customers in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services and service providers. An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is developed, outlining a vocational objective, services, providers and responsibilities. Certain services are subject to a Financial Needs Test (FNT) and may require financial participation by the customer. Counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referral, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters are provided at no cost to the individual. Also, by law OVR customers receiving Social Security benefits for their disability (SSI, SSDI) are exempt from OVR’s Financial Needs Test.


28

The local OVR office for Columbia County is located in Altoona and works with CMSU and probation for referrals, training, and job searching.

CareerLink, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides online tools to help job seekers, students, businesses, and career professionals For Columbia County resources, see http://www.servicelocator.org/Search/detail-info.asp?Category=CenterInformation&ParentID=184037&state=PA

Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. (CSO) Central Susquehanna Opportunities serves as the Community Action Agency for Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties. By analyzing the needs of the area and developing support services, this arm of the organization provides the tools needed to enable people to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency. CSO is in Shamokin and is responsible for providing Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services to the public within the CareerLink® system. The ultimate goal of workforce development programs is to secure stable family-sustaining employment through help with personal security deposits and utility-matching programs. For more information, see http://censop.com/.

Additional Community Supports

AGAPE AGAPE is a non-denominational, faith-based mission to serve the people in Columbia and Montour County. Their goal is to “fill in the gaps” which currently exist between people in need, and the community services available to assist them. The AGAPE ministry began in July 2009, and primarily serves families throughout Columbia and Montour counties; however, during the 2011 Tropical Storm Lee flood AGAPE helped families throughout six counties. In 2011, AGAPE was awarded the Humanitarian Award from the Alcoa Foundation. Since 2013, AGAPE has helped over 1,100 clients with over $87,000 worth of clothing through their monthly clothing giveaway. In February 2013, the first two individuals to successfully graduate from the Columbia County Drug Court Program completed their community service hours through AGAPE. Approximately 8% of the clients that AGAPE serves are homeless. Supportive services include: housing, material resources, bread meal soup kitchen on Thursdays, AA meetings, financial resources for GED classes, computer access for employment applications, hygiene kits, care packages, and the Bridges out of Poverty programming.

AGAPE implements the Aha! Process’s Bridges Out of Poverty community support program. The program provides a family of concepts, workshops, and products to help employers, community organizations, social service agencies, and individuals address and reduce poverty in a comprehensive way. Bridges brings people from all sectors and economic classes together to improve job retention rates, build resources, improve outcomes, and support those who are moving out of poverty. The program is 16 week course that covers three modules of learning.

Columbia County Family Centers Columbia County Family Centers uses the Parents as Teachers model, which has been highlighted on national television. Services offered to parents that utilize the Parents as Teachers model include: regularly scheduled home visits with trained family development specialists; monthly parent meetings; playgroups; lending libraries for families with children ages 0-5; and routine screenings to detect early problems with vision, hearing, growth and learning, etc. Children who are part of the Parents as Teachers model are found to score above national averages in thinking and speaking skills, have more refined social skills, have a better attitude about themselves and others, have better problem-solving and reasoning skills, etc.

http://www.servicelocator.org/Search/detail-info.asp?Category=CenterInformation&ParentID=184037&state=PA

http://www.servicelocator.org/Search/detail-info.asp?Category=CenterInformation&ParentID=184037&state=PA

http://censop.com/


29

Each month the Family Centers offer three general Parent Classes within the county. These classes are appropriate for parents with children of all ages. Classes range from Helping your children Develop Values, Harmony at Home, Managing your child for Good Behavior, Communicating with your Youth, How to Help your Child Deal with Peer Pressure, etc. Classes are offered free of charge to individuals referred by their caseworker or the courts.

Periodic budgeting sessions are offered during the general class sessions. Participants are given skills such as how to manage a checkbook, appropriate use of credit, create a budget, etc. Budgeting workshops are offered twice a year in the community.

Family group decision making is a voluntary process that brings friends and family together to create a plan to insure the safety of children. It is a conference held on one day with caring members of the family. It brings all of the strengths of the family and friends to the table to create their own plan to ensure safety and provide permanency.

Time Limited Family Reunification (TLFR) is a voluntary out-of-home placement service that addresses the concerns of families whose children are in out-of-home placement. Families will work side-by-side with TLFR staff to make necessary changes. Participants can expect speedier return of children, weekly home visits/phone calls from staff, TLFR staff member to attend visits with family members, a referral network to help find appropriate programs/services to meet family needs, a positive support system, and weekly updates to a caseworker on progress.

For more information, see http://columbiapa.org/family_center/index.php

Columbia County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Inc. The Columbia County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic was established roughly 10 years ago with the mission to provide primary care for the working uninsured, although they occasionally serve non-employed individuals. All the doctors are volunteers. The clinic also helps individuals get healthcare through the marketplace through the Affordable Care Act. Students from Bucknell University drive to Columbia County to help clients apply for health insurance. The clinic is located 310 East Third Street, Mifflinville, PA 18631, phone number: 570-752-1780.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. Columbia County is served by the NAMI Pennsylvania Central Susquehanna Valley Area Chapter, which identifies and works on issues most important to consumers and their friends and family in Columbia County. The NAMI Pennsylvania Central Susquehanna Valley Area Chapter is located in Danville and can be reached at 570-441-5763 or [email protected].

For more information, see http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?MicrositeID=301.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) provide a 24-hour phone service where individuals can access the schedule of meetings in Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union counties. The AA phone services can be accessed at (570) 286-7436, and the NA phone service can be accessed at (570) 988-7177.

Transportation Transportation programs in Columbia County include: Medical Access Transportation Program, the Welfare to Work Transportation program and Income Eligible Transportation programs. Contact 570-784-8807 for a list of the transportation programs and guidelines that are available in Columbia County.

http://columbiapa.org/family_center/index.php


http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?MicrositeID=301


30

Identified Gaps

State parole system office at Scranton – phone message issues (i.e. cannot get a hold of a person)

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) was supposed to have a Columbia County Justice re-entry program to it, but it hasn’t been used yet due funding restrictions

Housing issues - Rules - Rent Affordability - Homelessness increases in the winter - Homeless population is challenging to provide services for


Probation would like more training on BH - Trauma training

Treatment court and Columbia County Jail use RANT tool - Probation will implement the tool next

Local probation officers have state parole officers’ cell phone numbers – increases communication and collaboration

The county is looking more at criminogenic risk factors

Probation calls Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center directly and the VA is very helpful and receptive

Probation works with CMSU - collaborative relationship


31

Columbia 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. Provide more BH Training for Law Enforcement to include: (21 Total Votes/ 15 High Priority

Votes)

a. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)/ Hearing Voices Exercise

b. Financial Supports

c. Flexible Training Schedule

d. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) – Public Safety

e. Online Options for Trainings

f. Annual Training

2. Expand Housing Options (15 Total Votes/ 6 High Priority Votes)

3. Increase Diversion Programs (11 Total Votes/ 1 High Priority Vote)

4. Address Delays in Emergency Rooms (10 Total Votes/ 0 High Priority Votes)

5. Explore a Mental Health Court Track in Drug Treatment Court (8 Total Votes/ 1 High Priority

Vote)

6. Increase Peer Support / Mutual Aid to include: (7 Total Votes/ 0 High Priority Votes)

a. 24/7 Supports

b. Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

c. Hearing Voices Support Group

d. Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS)

7. Develop Second Chance Strategies to include: (6 Total Votes/ 3 High Priority Votes)

a. Letter from District Attorney (DA)

b. CareerLink – Lancaster County

c. Other Ideas

8. Provide more Information about Mental Illness Training (6 Total Votes/ 2 High Priority

Votes)

a. Mental Health First Aid

9. Develop Strategies for Early Identification of Mental Health that include: (4 Total Votes/ 1

High Priority Vote)

a. Communication in probation reports

b. Information sharing at monthly cross systems meeting

10. Consider Veterans Court/Identification and Intervention for Veterans across Intercepts (3

Total Votes/1 High Priority Vote)

11. Provide Trauma-Informed Training (2 Total Votes/1 High Priority Vote)

12. Consider Subcommittee of Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) to address those

convicted of drug trafficking (1 Total Vote/0 High Priority Votes)

a. Ineligible for Drug Court


32

Listed below is a list of condensed priority areas identified by the workshop participants as a

group on Day Two.

Priority Area 1: Increase in Behavioral Health (BH) Training

I. Provide more BH training to include:

a. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training/ Hearing Voices Exercise


c. Flexible Training Schedules

d. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) – Public Safety

e. Online Options for Training

f. Annual Trainings

II. Provide training with more information about mental illness to include:

a. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

III. Provide Trauma-Informed Training

Priority Area 2: Expand Housing Options

Priority Area 3: Develop Diversion Programs

I. Increase Diversion Programs

II. Explore a Mental Health Court Track in Drug Treatment Court

Priority Area 4: Address delays in Emergency Rooms to include: a. Systematic Relationship Building

b. Capacity building along with increased training

c. Cross training about criminal justice system

Priority Area 5: Increase Peer Support/Mutual Aid to include:

a. 24/7 Supports

b. Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

c. Hearing Voices Support Groups

d. Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS)

Priority Area 6: Develop Second Chance Strategies that include:

a. Letter from District Attorney (DA)


c. Other Ideas

Priority Area 7: Develop Strategies for Early Identification of Mental Health that include:



Priority Area 8: Consider Subcommittee of CJAB to address those convicted of drug

trafficking

a. Ineligible for Drug Court


33

Columbia County Action Plan

Priority: Moving Forward

Objective Action Step Who When

Next Criminal Justice

Advisory Board (CJAB)

Meeting

Columbia County

CJABs December 19th

,

2014

Report summarizing

results of mapping

workshop

1. Action Plan, Map,

Priorities

2. Resource Guide for

CIT and MHFA

3. First Draft of the

Report

4. Counties to share with

workshop participants

and provide feedback

to CoE

5. CoE to finalize report

CoE to

Barbara

Next Tuesday

11/11/14

Next Tuesday

11/11/14

Two Week

Upcoming

Conferences/Workshops

1. Housing Alliance

Conference (See

Appendix A)

2. Pre-Conference

Workshop (See

Appendix B)

PCCD/

Housing

Alliance of

PA

CoE

November 17th

,

2014

Tuesday December

2nd

, 2014


34

Priority Area 1: Increase in Behavioral Health (BH) Training

I. Provide more BH training to include:

a. CIT/ Hearing Voices Exercise


c. Flexible Training Schedule

d. MHFA – Public Safety

e. Online Options for Training

f. Annual Training

II. Provide training with more information about mental illness to include:

a. MHFA

III. Provide Trauma-Informed Training

Group Brainstorming

I. Provide more BH training

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training

Offer to law enforcement (LE), sheriffs, APO, all first responders including 911

and correctional officers

How to organize effectively

o Spread 40 hours over multiple weeks (e.g., five Mondays)

o Examples?

Next Step: CoE provided the contact information for the

Clearfield/Jefferson CIT program. See below:

a. Bill Mendat – Clearfield/Jefferson MH Program Director

b. [email protected]

What is best size of class?

o CMSU has instructors / money estimates

Address issue of officer liability if they take course

High suicide rates of police officers – stress management component for officers

Look at programs that are alternatives to the ER – CIT helps officers learn about

new resources

Next Steps:

o Reach out to the following counties to learn more about their programs:

Centre County

Lackawanna County

Clearfield/Jefferson Counties

o Consider the CoE Pre-Conference focused on CIT and MHFA (see

Appendix B)

o Who should come to the table?

Partnerships (Build on ER work)

o CoE can provide toolkits and schedules, etc.

o Resources/ Partnerships:

Bloomsburg University



35

ER

II. Provide more information about Mental Illness Training

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Adult – Have modifications (e.g., public safety, faith, vets)

Youth Modules

Use “structures from state” – there are law enforcement folks who are instructors

Consider sending some folks to become instructors

DOC has instructors

o Muncy and Retreat

Cost?

o Cost of manuals $25-$30

o Instructor training $2000 (National Council)

MHFA Website http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/

Next Steps:

o Work through the CJAB (Next meeting 12/19)

o Find instructor

o CMSU will check with their MHFA trainer – could do a demo class to see

if the county likes it?

o Develop a training committee as part of CJAB? There is already a

subcommittee for “community education”

III. Provide more Trauma-Informed Training


1.1

1.2

http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/


36

Priority Area 2: Expand Housing Options

Group Brainstorming

Homeless Task Force meets monthly

o Second Tuesday of every month at the Saw Mill Complex

o Represented on CJAB

CJAB – Judge Norton chairs housing committee of CJAB – PCCD Housing Grants

o Issues:

Money

Building/zoning

Local government support

Lack of income for individuals (cannot sustain – no money)

Inaccurate perception of homelessness: “Does not exist”

Does not take into account individuals who couch-surf or live

under bridges

Sometimes it is not apparent that an individual is homeless

Picture of who is homeless

Homeless Task force

o Develop goals

o Then use to get PCCD funding?

o Sustainability of master leasing is an important issue

How to get accurate numbers of people who are homeless in Columbia County?

o Tracking sheets

Next Steps: Sue Erdman (Bloomsburg University) sent the sheet to all

participants of this workshop on 11.6.14 (See Appendix C for tracking

sheet)


2.1

2.2


37

Priority Area 3: Develop Diversion Programs



Group Brainstorming


CMSU would support

Central court

o Specific day for case review

o Develop fast track for cases like DUIs

o Helps to streamline the process

o There are a variety of models – each county operates theirs differently

o MDJ level – consider utilizing

Some practical impediments to having a central court in Columbia:

o DA’s and PD’s are part-time personnel

o Work geographically

o Have private practices


Have structure/process in place

Site visits to mental health courts (Northumberland County would be a good one)

o Policy procedures from their courts

Staff on APO side is needed because diversion affects their end

8 to 10 people at any time

MH has a robust service system in Columbia

There is a team MISA in Leigh County (not specialty court)

CMSU– start at re-entry/parole meeting

o Next Steps: CMSU is going to start to sit in on re-entry meetings

Work into new jail re-entry program:

o Lack of government funds

o Could volunteer mentors be developed?

o Increase community involved

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team (community mental health

services)

o Evidence-based practice with SAMHSA -- for people with SMI only

o It is like a mobile mental health center

o Delivers medications

o Wrap around service for consumers with chronic mental illness

o Shows consumers how to go grocery shopping, balance a checkbook,

clean the house, etc.

o High intensity rural model


38

o A very good model to consider for Columbia County

Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation

o One person on staff

o Reimbursable through MH Assistance

PCCD has SAEDR money: yearly funding (that is highly underused) to

implement evidence-based practice that has a D&A component to it (so, co-

occurring would be the focus)


3.1

3.2


39

Priority Area 4: Address delays in Emergency Rooms to include: a. Systematic Relationship Building

b. Capacity building along with increased training

c. Cross training about criminal justice system

Group Brainstorming

DA on community advisory board Geisinger in Bloomsburg

o Next Step: DA volunteered to coordinate a meeting with commissioner / all

three hospitals in the region

Make sure hospitals are involved in training – make sure there is a preliminary meeting

with the hospital to discuss future training

Geisinger is a big health system – How to approach/inroads

AGAPE has good working relationship with “larger” Geisinger

United Way has a good relationship with Berwick Hospital

Bring all the hospitals together rather than one by one – CMSU will be a key partner in

this as well

What is the ask when moving forward with a meeting with the hospitals?

o Streamline process for admissions process for serious mental illness (SMI)

population

Include an increase in security at hospitals (currently no security

staff at Berwick)

Restraints versus handcuffs

Make sure the ERs are ready for higher volume of consumers

being brought in (potentially as a result of increase in BH training)

Build structural relations with hospitals’ emergency room

Hospital incident/safety trade off expense

Hospital staff may need training to help them find a way to quickly process consumers

brought in by LE so that LE can leave soon after (quick turnaround)

Hospital Risk Management Department needs to be included

Invite top people (control the money and legislators)

o George Riddle – oversees the Bloomsburg Hospital ER


4.1

4.2


40

Priority Area 5: Increase Peer Support/Mutual Aid to include:

a. 24/7 Supports

b. WRAP

c. Hearing Voices Support Groups

d. Certified Recovery Specialists

Group Brainstorming

Forensic Peer Support

o CPS: 1 full-time and 3 part-time personnel

Forensic peer support is talking about working with probation office

Having forensic peer support in jail is a problem due to a billing issue/MA issue

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

o Places that WRAP could be implemented: APO, MH court track

Certified Recovery Specialist

o Based in Luzerne County – the CRS is trying to expand out

o Not currently connected to Columbia’s D&A court


5.1

5.2


41

Priority Area 6: Develop Second Chance Strategies that include:

a. Letter from DA


c. Other Ideas

Group Brainstorming

Co-lateral issues of getting arrested

o Job access

o Housing

o Civic involvement

Local community action group that contracts with Labor and Industry: Central

Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO)

Federal program (administered through labor and industry at a local level) that helps with

bond money for the employer (Lancaster does it through CareerLink)

o Contact Megan Eiar


6.1

6.2


42

Priority Area 7: Develop Strategies for Early Identification of Mental Health that include:



Group Brainstorming

Note: Probation comes across individuals with MH issues who have not yet been flagged in

the system

Red flag/identification at screenings

Bring this issue to re-entry committee meetings (probation and CMSU need to talk about

finding ways to red-flag people early on)

Link to CIT training – early identification

No easy answers


7.1

7.2


43

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 Columbia County criminal justice system. Columbia 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 Columbia County criminal justice system. Peer support services, in-jail treatment programs, and medical assistance re-entry planning programs are some examples of current Columbia County initiatives. Columbia County has also developed some thoughtful data to begin to provide a clearer understanding of the issues being discussed. In addition, the expansion of behavioral health training and the development of diversion programs are promising community efforts that generated a good deal of interest during the workshop. 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 other police jurisdictions, 911, local hospitals, local veteran organizations, Social Security Administration, local managed care organization, and other local peers. Regular meetings should be held by this larger group to facilitate information sharing, planning, networking, development and coordination of resources, and problem solving.

Closing

Columbia 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 Columbia County and to observe 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/


44

Appendix A: Columbia County Participant List

Last Name,

First Name Agency / Title

Street Address

City, State, Zip Phone E-Mail

Baker, Joseph CMSU Behavioral Health,

Housing Coordinator

PO Box 219

Danville, PA 17821 570-275-5422 [email protected]

Beach, Richard Administrator, CMSU

stop Box219

Danville, PA 17821

Danville

570-275-5422 [email protected]

Belles, Jodi

Columbia County Adult

Probation,

Probation/Parole Officer

35 West Main Street,

Bloomsburg, PA

17817


Brehm, Weston

Columbia County Housing

& Redevelopment

Authorities, IT Manager/

Data Technician

700 Sawmill Rd, STE

101, Bloomsburg, PA

17815

570-336-9454 wbrehm@columbiacountyhousing.

com

Bridges, Heather E. Genesis House, Director 320 E. 2

nd Street,

Bloomsburg Pa. 717-232-6981 [email protected]

Brown, Betty

AGAPE Love from above

to Our Community,

Addiction Coordinator

19 E. 7th

St. PO. Box

#424

Bloomsburg, PA

17815

570-317-2210 [email protected] &

[email protected]










45

Last Name,


Street Address


Campbell, William

Columbia County Prison,

Warden

721 Iron Street,

Bloomsburg, PA

17815 570-784-4815 [email protected]

Cashner, Cathy CMSU, Crisis Supervisor 603 E. Market St

Danville 570-275-4962 [email protected]

Chamberlain, Timothy Columbia County Sheriff


Bloomsburg, PA

17815


Chapman, Eileen


to Our Community,

Executive Director

19 E. 7th

St. PO. Box

#424

Bloomsburg, PA

17815


[email protected]

Coleman, Donald


Probation, Chief

Probation Officer


Bloomsburg, PA

17815


Crake, Ginny Berwick Area United

Way, CEO

139 R. East 2nd

Street,

Berwick, PA 18603 570-759-8203 [email protected]

Curry, Cosmas

BASD, Superintendent

728 East Fifth St

Bloomsburg, PA

17815 570-784-5000 [email protected]










46

Last Name,


Street Address


Dormer, Jennifer

CMSU, D&A Case

Management Supervisor

603 E. Market St

Danville, PA 17821 570-275-4962 [email protected]

Englert, John Vigilnet, Senior Account

Manger

11 E Market St York

PA 17401 570-499-5619 [email protected]

Erdman, Sue Bloomsburg University,

Senior Research Assistant

400 East Second Street

Bloomsburg, PA

17815


Fraley, Frances

Columbia County DA,

Victim Witness

Coordinator

35 West Main Street 570-389-5658 [email protected]

Girton, Dorothy

Columbia County

Assistance Office,

Casework Supervisor

P.O. Box 628,

Bloomsburg, PA 570-912-1131 [email protected]

Gorrell, Barbara CMSU, Drug and Alcohol

Administrator

PO Box 219, Danville,

Pa 570-275-5422 [email protected]

Heaps, Karen


to Our Community, Case

Manager

19 E. 7th

St P.O. Box

#424

Bloomsburg, PA

17815


[email protected]










47

Last Name,


Street Address


Honorable Thomas A.

James, Jr.

Columbia County Court

of Common Pleas,

President Judge


Bloomsburg, PA

17815


Hotaling, Kristen

26th

Judicial District,

Judicial Administrative

Assistant


Bloomsburg PA 17815 570-389-5662 [email protected]

Howey, Cynthia

Columbia County

Assistance Office,

Executive Director

P.O. Box 628,

Bloomsburg, PA 570-387-4222 [email protected]

Irey, Michael


Administration, Special

Master



Kline, Tami


Administration, District

Court Administrator



Knecht, Richard

District Court 26-3-02,

District Judge

339 West Front Street,

Berwick, PA 18603 570-759-0359

Kovach, David

Columbia County,

Columbia County

Commissioner


Main Street County

Annex, Bloomsburg,

PA 17815








48

Last Name,


Street Address


Leipold, Tom

Columbia County, District

Attorney



Limeberry, Tyler


Probation and Parole,

Probation/ Parole officer



Lilley, David Certified Peer Specialist,

CMSU 570-765-7163 [email protected]

Lombardo, Jennifer

White Deer Run/CRC

Health, Regional Service

Coordinator


Lynch, Stephanie

PA Office of Vocational

Rehab (OVR), Vocational

Rehab Counselor

300G Laird Street

Wilkes-Barre, PA

18702

570-826-2011

ext. 113 [email protected]

Mahon, John T.


Probation, Probation

Officer


Bloomsburg 570-389-5650 [email protected]

McCarthy, Mary

Columbia County Prison

(CCP), Case Manager

Supervisor

721 Iron St

Bloomsburg 570-441-8288 [email protected]









49

Last Name,


Street Address


Mensch, Ashley

Columbia County Family

Centers, Family

Development Specialist

11 W. Main Street,

PO. Box 380

Bloomsburg, PA

17815


Mordan, Skip

Columbia County

Sheriff’s Dept., Chief

Deputy Sheriff



Nemoianu, Andrei MD Geisinger Health System,

Forensic Psychiatrist

100 N. Academy

Drive 570-271-6516 [email protected]

Phillips, Tom Bloomsburg Univ. Police,

Director of Police

400 E. 2nd

St.

Bloomsburg 570 389-4775 [email protected]

Ridgeway, Richard Columbia County,

Commissioner


Main Street County

Annex, Bloomsburg,

PA 17815


Smith, Shelley K.

CMSU, BSU Director

603 E. Market St. Ste

200 Danville, PA

17821


Snyder, Melanie G.

Lancaster Co. RMO,

Executive Director

626 W Walnut St,

Lancaster, PA 17603 717-572-2110 [email protected]









50

Last Name,


Street Address


Strish, Ken

Berwick Police

Department, Berwick

Police Chief

1800 North Market

Street, Berwick, PA

18603


Van Loan, Roger F.

Bloomsburg Police, Chief

of Police

301 E. 2nd

St.,

Bloomsburg, PA

17815


Warunek, Barbara


Administration, Court

Programs & Development

Director

35 W Main Street,

Bloomsburg, PA

17815


Williams, Allison Columbia Montour

Family Center, Director

11 West Main St,

Bloomsburg, PA

17815

570-387-9086

x 1 [email protected]

Young, Chris Columbia County,

Commissioner



Zaleski, Peter

OVR, Voc Rehab

Counselor

300G Laird St Wilkes-

Barre, PA 18702

570-826-2011

x127 [email protected]








51

Appendix B: Youthful Offender Program Process

Go to Magistrate as soon as possible. Tell the

Magistrate you are taking YOP, and pleading not guilty. Then a hearing

will be scheduled within appx. 30 days. (You will

need to attend the hearing!)

ASAP!!! Submit a completed YOP application and

payment ($175) to CMSU!

CMSU contacts you and schedules the YOP.

Complete the program within 30 days without

having an additional alcohol violation.

Attend your hearing at the District Magistrate. Prior to the actual hearing you will be able to plea to a Disorderly

Conduct. The fines/fees for the Disorderly Conduct will need to be paid at that time (no payment plan).

Then you will need to take verification of YOP

completion to Police Station immediately

following completion of the YOP program!

(prior to the hearing date)

The Underage citation is changed to a Disorder

Conduct, drivers license is not

suspended, and after 5 years with no further

violations, you can petition the courts to

have the citation expunged.

The YOP process is very time sensitive!

You will have a

TOTAL of 30 days to

complete ALL Requirements!

THE YOP PROCESS

NOTE: YOP Applications can be obtained at BU Office of Student Standards, Student Standards Website, area police departments, & CMSU. Fees for the YOP Class and enrollment forms are to be mailed to CMSU. YOP class fees must be paid prior to taking the YOP Class. No exceptions. Revised 3/24/11


52

Appendix C: Columbia County Housing/Homeless Tracking Sheet

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