| July 12, 2004 MONTGOMERY -- Alabama’s Juvenile
Court Liaison Program and Jefferson County’s C.O.P.E. program have been selected by
the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ) as a potential
model for other states. The NCMHJJ has identified eight programs across the country
that offer promising practices for working with youth with Serious Emotional
Disturbances and Juvenile Justice Involvement. These selections focused on either
diverting youth from juvenile justice or reintegrating them back into their
communities. After a nationwide review, only eight programs across the country were
selected for site visits. Two of the eight selected programs are in Alabama.
Juvenile and Family Courts are often a portal of entry into services for children
and families with mental health, mental retardation, and/or substance abuse needs.
There is a national crisis of too many young people with mental illness,
inappropriately placed in the juvenile justice system. Estimates of over 50% of
incarcerated youth have one or more mental health, and/or substance abuse disorders.
The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation recognized the need
for diversion programs several years ago and now has Juvenile Court Liaisons serving
all Alabama counties.
Juvenile Court Liaisons are masters degreed counselors who are specifically trained
to work with law enforcement and the juvenile courts in cases where identifiable
mental disorders and/or substance use is a contributing factor. The liaison works
with the young person and their family to develop a plan for recovery that is
satisfactory to the court. Many Alabama juveniles have avoided detention and have
appropriately received treatment through the Juvenile Court Liaison initiative.
The second program cited by the NCMHJJ is the Children Overcoming Problems Everyday
(C.O.P.E.) initiative located in Jefferson County Family Court. C.O.P.E. is a county
level program that targets justice involved youth with mental health issues. The
program was established in 1999 in order to divert children who were at risk of
adjudication into treatment. Masters level clinicians are employed to help the young
person and their family through an intensive case-management model.
Representatives from the NCMHJJ will visit the Alabama programs on July 12-13, 2004.
Kathy E. Sawyer, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation, states, “I am proud of the progress that we have made in addressing
this critical need. There is still much to be done. We cannot afford to allow
children with mental health disorders to be adjudicated, taken out of their homes,
and placed in disciplinary facilities rather than treatment programs. Diversion is
the right thing to do and it is the most fiscally responsible solution to the
problem.” |
