Progress-to-Date, and a Look to the Future

Fall 2016

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www.naco.org/resources/behavioral-health-matters-counties

Behavioral health issuesare real and prevalent…

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Incarceration is not treatment. The needs are tremendous.

National Context

• The United States accounts for 5% of the world’s population BUT 25% of the world’s prison population.

• 356,000 people with mental illnesses are in U.S. prisons and jails vs 35,000 in state hospitals.

• 850,000 people with mental illness are on probation or parole in communities across the country.

This is not an issue unique to our community.

4Source: TAC Center

National Context

Persons with mental illness remain incarcerated:• Four to eight times longer than those without

mental illness for the exact same charge;• At a cost of up to seven times higher.

The criminalization of mental illnessis a social/health/justice issue

and a financial burden for taxpayers.

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Definition

Diversion First offers alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness or developmental disabilities, who come into contact with the criminal justice system for low level offenses.

The goal is to intercede whenever possible to provide assessment, treatment or needed supports. People needing diversion may also have a substance use disorder, which often co-occurs with mental illness.

Diversion First is designed to prevent repeat encounters with the criminal justice system, improve public safety, promote a healthier community and is a more cost effective and efficient use of public funding.

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No Health withoutMental Health

• Behavioral health disorders negatively affect all of the issues that Fairfax County’s public safety and human services are designed to address.

• Many of the impediments to an individual’s ability to achieve economic self-sufficiency, a healthy lifestyle, positive living and sustainable housing stem from behavioral health issues.

• Treatment of behavioral health issues improves an individual’s ability to achieve success in all aspects of a healthy self-determined life.

Prevention works. Treatment is effective.People recover.

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What is Diversion?

Decreasing the use of arrest and incarceration of people experiencing mental health behavioral crises by diverting them to treatment instead of bringing them to jail.• Intervene to help people access treatment at many points of

contact.• Treat people in crisis with respect and provide needed support. It

is not a crime to have an illness or disability. • Reduce the likelihood of physical confrontation and use of force.• Collaborate among law enforcement, other first responders and

mental health services.• Follow best practices and evidence-based approaches.

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What HappensWhen We Divert?

• Specialized response by trained law enforcement officers and well-trained dispatchers.

• Reduced time officers spend out of service awaiting mental health assessment and disposition and increased support for mental health staff.

• Improved outcomes for individuals.

• Cost savings to County.

• Decreased need for mental health interventions in jail and decreased recidivism.

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Cost Comparison

• Incarceration is significantly more expensive than mental health treatment. It costs approximately $66,000 to incarcerate a person in the Fairfax County jail for a year.

• In contrast, the average cost to provide one year of supportive community residential services (which usually includes housing plus treatment and support) through the Community Services Board (CSB) for an individual with serious mental illness is approximately $22,000 – one-third the cost of a year of incarceration. CSB intensive case management (without residential services) costs approximately $7,500 per year per person.

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Sequential InterceptModel

Intercept points are…• Predictable points of contact between offenders and the law

enforcement/judicial systems;• An opportunity to divert to treatment, if we are equipped to take advantage of

the opportunities; and• Effective mental health interventions.

Five intercepts:• Pre-Arrest: Interaction with law enforcement/emergency services• Post-Arrest: Initial hearing - magistrate/ initial detention - jail intake• Jails & Courts: Jail-based evaluation and support, specialty court docket • Post-Jail: Community reentry with transition plan for treatment• In the Community: Probation, community-based health care and support

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Sequential Intercept Model Predictable points of contact offering

opportunities for intervention

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Current Activities

• Crisis Intervention Team training• Mental Health First Aid training• Fire & Rescue Department training/diversions• Diversion Court Services and specialty docket• Communications• Evaluation and data collection

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Early Results

In the first nine months:• 1,164 people were transported by law

enforcement to Merrifield Crisis Response Center.

• 294 or 25% had potential criminal charges but were diverted to mental health services.

January 1 – September 30, 2016

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Please Share

If emergency mental health services are needed:• Call 911 if situation is immediately life-threatening.

Ask for a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer.• Otherwise, call Community Services Board (CSB)

Emergency Services (ES): 703-573-5679. • Or go directly to the Merrifield Center, 8221 Willow

Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031. Emergency Services entrance is on lower level. Staffed 24/7.

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Want to Learn More?

• Take Mental Health First Aid training, which is open to the public.

• Take online suicide prevention training. It is free, and you can take it from home on your computer or tablet.

• Check out the CSB’s new free, confidential online mental health screenings.

Find these and more at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/csb16

Stay Connected

• Visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/diversionfirst

• Next Diversion First Stakeholders meeting: October 17, 2016, from 7 to 9 p.m.Fairfax County Government Center

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