Behavioral Health Alerts

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2024 Newsletters

April 15Secondary Trauma and the Courts
April 1Leading Reform: Competence to Stand Trial Systems – Questions State Court Leaders Should Ask First
March 15UPSTREAM: Strengthening Children and Families through Prevention and Intervention Strategies: A Court and Community-Based Approach
March 1Psychiatric Advance Directives
February 15Behavioral Health Triage
February 1Diversion – A Pathways Approach
January 16Judicial Wellness
January 2 ICYMI - NEW RESOURCE: Judges' Guide to Mental Health Diversion

2023 Newsletters

December 15 NEW RESOURCE: Judges' Guide to Mental Health Diversion
December 1 External Funding Support to Lead Change
November 15 State Courts’ Responsibility to Convene, Collaborate, and Identify Individuals Across Systems
November 1 What State Court Leaders Need to Know About State Behavioral Health Systems
October 16 Psychiatric Advance Directives
October 2 Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Community-Based Civil Commitment
September 15 Secondary Trauma and the Courts
September 1 Diversion – A Pathways Approach
August 15 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and the State Courts
August  1 Juvenile Justice Mental Health Diversion Guidelines and Principles
July 17 Implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: What Court Leaders Need to Know
July 3 Violence and Mental Illness Myths and Reality
June 15 Juvenile Competency to Stand Trial
June 1 New Laws Make Changes at the Intersection of Criminal Justice and Health Care
May 15 2023: Hot Topics in State of Judiciary Addresses
May  1 Miami Can Lead the Way on Mental Health Treatment While Saving Taxpayers Millions
April  17 Webinar: Mental Health Cases - Crisis and Opportunity for State and Local Trial Courts
April 3 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant
March 15 Last Chance - Nominations Are Open for the 2023 Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Awards
March 1 Conference of Chief Justices President Loretta H. Rush Stresses Importance of Mental Health Crisis and Civics Education in ABA Address
February 15 New Model for Collaborative Court and Community Caseflow Management
February 1 Chief Justice Calls On State To ‘Join Forces’ To Solve Homelessness, Mental Health Crisis
January 17 The Judges’ Guide to Mental Health Diversion provides a roadmap for judges
January 3 The Task Force Made a Number of Important Findings, with Corresponding Recommendations

2022 Newsletters

December 15 Task Force Co-Chairs Share Report and Recommendations
December 1 Diversion Initiative Overview and Applicant Information
November 15 New Task Force Resources and a Technical Assistance Opportunity
November 1 Judicial Task Force Releases Final Report on State Courts' Response to Mental Illness
October 17 Examining Mental Health & the Courts: A Roundtable Discussion with National Experts
October 3 Task Force Releases Juvenile Mental Health Diversion Guidance
September 15 Model Legal Processes to Support Clinical Intervention for Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses and Pathways to Care
September 1 Behavioral Health and the Courts: What Should You Be Doing Right Now?
August 15 Resolution 1: In Support of the Recommendations of the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness
August 1 Task Force Publications and Resources
July 15 988 Crisis Line Implementation
July 1 Fall Miami Site Visit Schedule Announced
June 15 More New Task Force Resources Released
June 1 Task Force Releases Comprehensive Guidelines, Principles for Juvenile Mental Health Diversion
May 16 CCJ/COSCA Southern Region Mental Health Summit
May 2 New Task Force Resources Released
April 15 Task Force Releases Juvenile Mental Health Diversion Guidance
April 1 Hiding In Plain Sight: A Judge’s View on Youth Mental Health & The Justice System
March 15 Juvenile Justice Mental Health Diversion Guidelines and Principles
March 1 Breaking the Cycle: Justice Reform for the Mentally Ill
February 15 2022 Texas Tech Mental Health Law Symposium Webinar
February 1 Chief Justice Loretta Rush Addressed the Governor and a Joint Session of the Indiana General Assembly for the Annual State of the Judiciary
January 18 Interview with Marcia M. Meis Director, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
January 4 Restorative Justice & Policy for People with SMI & SED

2021 Newsletters

December 15 Judge Steve Leifman, Norman Ornstein and Keith Ellison on Criminal Justice and Mental Health
December 1 What We Know Now About Mental Health and the Courts: Grasping the Challenge
November 15 Trauma’s Impact and What Communities Can Do
November 1 Tonnya Kohn Discusses the Task Force’s Work and Goals
October 15 Chief Justice Brutinel Discusses the Task Force’s Work and Goals
October 1 Michigan Assisted Outpatient Treatment Webinar
September 15 New Report: Mental Health Competency Hearings Need Reform
September 1 NCSC Behavioral Health eLearning Series
August  16 Nancy Cozine Discusses the Task Force’s Work and Goals
August 2 Task Force Report Delivered to CCJ and COSCA
July 15 Chief Justice Robinson Discusses the Task Force’s Work and Goals
July 1 How One Local Judge is Working to Improve Responses to People with Mental Health Needs
June 15 Decriminalizing Mental Illness: A Novel Approach - Film Screening and Panel Discussion
June 1 June 4 deadline to apply for behavioral health case management learning collaborative
May 17 Chief Administrative Judge Marks Discusses the Task Force’s Work and Goals
May 3 Mental Health Task Force Adopts Working Plan
April 15 Chief Justice Reiber Discusses the Task Force’s Work and Goals
April 1 Convenings of National Organizations and Foundations for the National Judicial Task Force
March 15 Improving Case Processing and Outcomes for People with Behavioral Health Needs
March 1 Competence to Stand Trial
February 15 Behavioral Health and the Courts - Pandemic-Related Resources
February 1 Listening to the Field: Observations and Recommendations to Reduce Jail Populations During a Pandemic
January 15 The Crisis Care Continuum: Resources for Judges During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
January 4 National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness

2020 Newsletters

December 15 Opioid Crisis: The State Court Perspective
December 1 New Criminal Justice Community of Practice Opportunity:  Building a Competent Crisis Care System at Intercepts 0-1
November 16 Are Courts Designed to Handle Mental Health Issues?
November 2 Illinois Supreme Court and Partners Seek Solutions To Mental Health Concerns in IDOC
October 15 The work of the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness is underway!
October 1 Illinois Virtual Summit - Session 1 Resources Available
September 15 Behavioral Health and the Courts
September 1 Peer Support Roles Across the Sequential Intercept Model
August 17 Supporting Vulnerable Populations: Civil Interventions and Diversion for Those with Mental Illness
August 3 State Courts’ Responsibility to Convene, Collaborate and Identify Individuals Across Systems
July 14 Addressing Court Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being Webinar
July 1 Co-Chairs Named to Lead Task Force on Improving State Court Responses to People with Mental Health Issues
June 15 National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness Established
June 1 Washington District and Municipal Judges receive Virtual Training on Mental Illness
May 18 Corrections Checklist Helps Support Reentry during Pandemic
May 1 NCSC Offers “Virtual Doctor Is In” Sessions
April 16The Future is Now to Decriminalize Mental Illness
April 2Upcoming on PBS: The Definition of Insanity
March 23CCJ/COSCA Southern Region and New Mexico Summits are postponed due to COVID- 19
March 4Pima County (Tucson Arizona) Leading Change Workshop Focused on Crisis Resources and Diversion
February 10What do Court Leaders Need to Know About Medicaid Opportunities and Improving Outcomes?
January 21Mental Health Facts in Brief – New Educational Series available!