Mental Health and Criminal Justice Collaboration Ending an American Tragedy

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There is much that can be done to help people with mental and co-occurring substance use disorders avoid arrest and incarceration and return successfully to their communities after jail or prison. This demands a fully collaborative campaign involving both the behavioral health and criminal justice systems. Neither system can continue business as usual. This National Council LIVE webinar reviews the recommendations for effective collaboration outlined in a recent report from the National Leadership Forum on Behavioral Health/Criminal Justice Services. Forum leaders highlight current innovative and successful programs across the country. They describe an Essential System of Care and how it can be used in planning community responses to justice involved persons. Presenters also identify how states can use the report’s recommendations to meet the public health and public safety needs of our communities in rough economic times.