NAMI shines light on Orlando's efforts in mental health

SAM COCHRAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AWARD was awarded to Lt. Deanne Adams (CIT Orlando, FL)at the convention. She is an amazing woman and there are great things being done here in Florida too many people don't know about. This is a little bit about Lt. Adams.

Pathways Drop-In Center for the Mentally Ill
posted by Bruce Larson on May 28, 2008 6:49:29 PM
Jeff is homeless and stays at a makeshift "home" in an empty field under a Verizon Wireless billboard. His mother and brother also are temporary residents in this same field. She sleeps in a small pup tent and Jeff and his brother either sleep on a large piece of cardboard or under tarps spread across the limbs of two trees when it rains. This family also shares something else in common, they are all suffering from mental illness.

"Without the Pathways Drop-In Center, I don't know where I would be or what I would be doing right now, "Jeff said. "It gets me off the streets and keeps me focused on what I need to do," he continued.

Pathways Drop-In Center is a safe place where Jeff, his family, and others with mental illness can receive help. Located at 30th St. and S. Orange Blossom Trail, the center has helped these members of our community for over fifteen years.

The rules are strict and there are seven pages of them. But they are designed to make everything easier for everyone who comes to the center. Alcohol and non-prescribed drugs are forbidden and anyone breaking this rule faces a mandatory thirty day suspension from the center. Not everyone has access to the services. Each one applying must show documentation of a mental illness or undergo a psychiatric evaluation, usually performed by Lakeside Alternatives Behavioral Health Care.

The center is open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Complete, hot meals are served at any time during these hours and the center typically sees about sixty qualifying people every day.

Pathways also provides showers, laundry facilities, internet access, a pool table, telephone access, a television room, a room to rest or nap, and group games and activities. The center also encourages prescribed treatment compliance.

The President and CEO of the Pathways Drop-In Center, Nelson Kull, was diagnosed with schizophrenia while in his early teens. Kull is responsible for all facets of the center's design and financial administration. He presently serves on the consumer panel of the Florida National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), the board of the Mental Health Association (MHA) of Central Florida. Kull has also served on the board of the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities in Florida (2001), the Human Rights Advocacy Committee (1997-2000) and the Florida Council on Community Mental Health (1998-2000). Kull receives disability income and does not accept any salary from Pathways.
go here for more of this
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/community_altamonte_blog/religion/index.html

We also heard from Judge Mark Speiser on treatment instead of jail.

This is a bit about him.
JUDGE RULES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL
by Howard Finkelstein


Over the last few years Broward County has taken many remarkable steps to more humanely handle the unique needs of mentally ill and mentally retarded persons who find themselves in the criminal justice system. Although the Mental Health Court has received most of the attention, notoriety and praise it is only one of the many new and progressive developments that have been or will be implemented.

All of these developments, however, have one thing in common. They are the direct result of the work, efforts and vision of one person.
That person is the Honorable Circuit Court Judge Mark Speiser.

Judge Speiser, without precedent and only his vision to guide him, created the Mental Health Task Force. This Task Force brought to the table all of the parties that impact the treatment of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system. They include prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, those in the mental health system, private providers and relevant political players. Judge Speiser began a meaningful dialogue that still continues to this day. The purpose of this dialogue is to gain control of what a past Grand Jury called a "leaderless and rudderless ship" that was, and to a great extent, still is our mental health system.

Some, but certainly not all, of the accomplishments to come out of this dialogue as a result of Judge Speiser's firm but gentle guidance:

1). A more user friendly crisis stabilization facility for the benefit of law enforcement as well as the person in crisis. This allows for a greater possibility that law enforcement will divert the person in crisis to the mental health system rather than jail.

2). Altering the probable cause affidavit forms that are used by all police agencies to allow for a designation of a possible mental disability. This would increase the ability to identify and divert appropriate mental health cases to the mental health system and out of the jail system.

3). Sensitivity training for police officers so that they can more effectively and humanely interact with persons who are mentally ill or mentally retarded.

4). Getting the Department of Children and Families to fund a position that will place a psychiatric nurse in the Mental Health Court.

5). Accessing available grant money so that additional and better services and treatment can be provided to those suffering from mental illness and drug addiction. In addition Judge Speiser was and still is one of the guiding forces of Broward County's Drug Court.

In this writer's opinion, the most important change that Judge Speiser has brought to Broward County is a new attitude and a new way that the criminal justice system views, interacts with and dispenses justice and /or treatment to those suffering from mental illness, retardation and addiction. Judge Speiser has introduced a new dawn. One that is more understanding , compassionate and humane. His efforts, vision and heart have been a grand gift. He has most definitely helped those afflicted with mental illness and drug addiction. But he has also helped us, for he has led the way so that we can begin to leave behind our collective shame and start treating our brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and husbands and wives as family rather than animals. For this we should all be grateful.
go here for more
http://www.browarddefender.org/mhealth/volume_i2_mental_health.htm

Then there is Michelle Saunders.

Mental health advocates meet in Tampa listen 01/10/08 Seán Kinane WMNF Evening News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
There is such widespread incarceration of people with mental illness that jails have become the largest mental health care providers in many communities, according to a report released in November by the Florida Supreme Court.
The report on how the state’s courts and social support systems manage citizens with mental illness recommends that mentally ill patients be moved out of jails and into treatment facilities that are almost always less expensive. An advocacy group for people with mental illness or substance abuse, Florida Partners in Crisis, held a board meeting today in Tampa.
John Petrila is a professor with the Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) at the University of South Florida. He co-chaired the Policy, Legislative, and Finance Workgroup for the Supreme Court’s report.
Michele Saunders is the executive director of Florida Partners in Crisis, which she called a diverse coalition coming together with one purpose, to better fund the mental health and substance abuse system. One way to do that, according to Saunders, is to focus on legislation in Tallahassee, including a renewal of the Criminal Justice Mental Health Substance Abuse Reinvestment Act.
Saunders said increasing reinvestment funding is one of the recommendations in the Florida Supreme Court report and Florida Partners in Crisis will seek funding from the Legislature for others.
John Petrila said the Legislature has to follow up on the Supreme Court’s recommendations.
Saunders agrees that investing in up-front services will save the state money in the long run.
Mark Speiser is a circuit court judge in Broward County and is chair of the Florida Partners in Crisis Board. He said it was important for people with mental illnesses to have access to appropriate treatment.
One way to keep people with mental health issues out of the criminal justice system and get them needed care is through mental health courts. The country’s first mental health court was established in Broward County in 1997.
Within the next few months, Hillsborough County will begin a felony mental health court to reduce the criminalization of mental illness, headed by Hillsborough Circuit Court Judge Debra Benhke.
Benhke said there are advantages to having a mental health court as opposed to keeping everyone in the criminal court system.
Judge Speiser said the Mental Health Court in Broward County serves as a successful model for the one in Hillsborough.
The group Mental Health America of Greater Tampa Bay will host a Mental Health Brainstorming Council on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 9 a.m. until noon at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Himes Avenue in Tampa.
Learn more:
Florida Partners in Crisis
Supreme Court Mental Health report
FMHI
Previous WMNF report on Broward County’s Mental Health Court
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
For information on the Tampa Bay Region Mental Health Brainstorming Council II meeting Feb. 2, contact Scott F. Barnett at (813) 972-2618.
http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/5094

For all the complaining I do about what is not being done with mental health, it feels good to know some things are being done right. I love to post them whenever I find them but this convention gave me a lot of hope as well as a lot of headaches. More on this later.