Mental Health Court Day Track Descriptions

TRACK 1

What Works in Treatment

The co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance abuse are common in all problem solving courts. Information about the combination of disorders will help drug courts have better outcomes. These four sessions will introduce participants to basic information on co-occurring disorders. The first session is an overview. The 2nd session will look at culture and mental illness and give participants an opportunity to discuss their own cultural backgrounds and how it applies to mental health. The 3rd presentation will provide information on treatments that have been successful and the 4th presentation will look at special needs for people in the criminal justice system, people who are homeless, and women.

TRACK 2

Effectively Dealing with Traumatic Brain Injury and Trauma

Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are critical issues which need to be considered in any drug court or mental health court. This track features four sessions, the first two of which concentrate on traumatic brain injury; the second two sessions concentrate on trauma. This track is designed for the practitioner who seeks to better understand the issues related to TBI and trauma in their drug court or other problem-solving court population.

TRACK 3

Issues with Adolescents and Young Adults

All drug courts and mental health courts face critical challenges when working with adolescents or young adults who struggle with mental illness and addiction. Issues around trauma, brain development, and treatment for this population are specialized and unique. This track tackles the difficult questions around effectively treating adolescents and young adults with co-occurring disorders and culminates in a presentation from Idaho’s Pilot Juvenile Mental Health Court.

TRACK 4

Understanding Medication, Drug Testing, and Behavior Modification

Both mental health courts and other problem-solving courts must understand the issues surrounding medically assisted treatment. Many participants in these courts will find themselves on medication-perhaps indefinitely. This track looks at the clinical issues to consider when dealing with those on medications and what medications your participants may be taking. It also addresses issues such as medication monitoring, drug testing, and how behavior modification techniques differ from a traditional drug court model.

TRACK 5

From Ethics to Case Management: Special Considerations

Mental Health Courts and other problem-solving courts must address a variety of concerns unique to the participant with co-occurring disorders. Every member of the mental health court or drug court team needs to consider issues ranging from ethical practice to the fundamentals of effective case management for people with mental illness. This track looks inside the mental health courts-and other problem-solving courts-and explores the nuances of these issues.

TRACK 6

Implementing a Mental Health Court

Would you like to implement a mental health court in your jurisdiction? If so, this is the track for you! Come hear from national experts, including representatives from the Council of State Governments five Mental Health Court Learning Sites, and other mental health court experts from across the United States on what it takes to build a mental health court! From the fundamentals, to why your community needs a mental health court, to special issues for consideration, to expert advice, this track will get you started!

TRACK 7

Mental Health Courts and Beyond

Mental health courts, like drug courts before them, have raised the bar for effective service delivery for large populations of individuals entering the Justice System every day. This track offers insight into how you can further increase the effectiveness of your mental health court, or the services in your drug court for those with mental illness, while also looking beyond mental health courts to consider how this model could reshape the entire justice system.