RES 059 Draft 01 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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[Document C, 4 of 5 pages) Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant (MHT SIG) U/uakupu Awards - Community Grants Program Proposal Narrative 1. Give a description of the organization, its history and accomplishments, decision-making process, organizational structure, and development of new and diverse leadership. The Big Island Task Force on Criminal Justice was originally formed in the early 1980s to address the overcrowding at Hawaii Community Correctional Center. It was discovered that the pre-trial population represented a substantial number of inmates -with a large percentage of that population awaiting the completion of mental examinations. Then Public Defender Francis Akamine resolved the issue by conducting workshops on the legal process and procedures. In the 1990s the overcrowding became an issue again -and once again, those pending mental examinations were in noticeable numbers at HCCC. Also present in glaring numbers were female inmates. In 2000, the Hawaii Symposium on Women Offenders was presented - attendees came from California and Washington State to learn what Hawaii had to say. In 2000, the 704 Handbook Committee was formed to look at the 704 processes and procedure. In 2003, the Committee wrote and received SAM HSA grant to fund the first Jail Diversion Program in the State of Hawaii -the Hawaii County Jail Diversion Program. The Task Force is a collaborative effort from folks within and outside of the criminal justice system - police, prosecutors, probation and the courts; also'included in the collaboration is The Department.of:; Health's"Adult 1.Mental'Health'Division;"Wotkforcd Development Division Hawaii CommunitirCOE&I and the County of Hawaii Mayors Office. The Adult Mental Health Division has taken leadership with the Jail Diversion Program; Workforce Development and Mayor's Office have directed the Re-entry Initiatives and the Hawaii Community College has worked with HCCC to develop and implement educational programs. The 704 Handbook Committee has presented several workshops dealing with the legal process and procedures. In 2007, service providers and consumers were invited to participate. Consumers touched the hearts of participants by sharing their experiences. Service providers shared their roles in the 704 process. Feedback was positive and requests were for more workshops and the inclusion of police and first line responders. 2. Describe your target population, including information you feel will help the reviewers understand the nature of your intervention (i.e. age, gender, socioeconomic needs, geographic residence, other unique circumstances or characteristics, etc.). 'We 'are targeting professionals Who'interface'and work with'SPMhconsumers'and typically do not get::-: training mfhe course'of theirwork"These professionals 'includea Judges;attorneys; police; parole <and,;�: p�ibatioh`staff, correctional center staff, first responders, hospital staff, adultprotective services staff Also targeted are SPMI consumers who are in the jail diversion and conditional release populations. According to the GAINS Center Strategic Analysis Workshop (11/28/07), "Arrests and subsequent incarceration of many persons with mental illness could be circumvented if the arresting officer has P.,Ac.ri nQ 1 Rnk Page 4 Anolication Packet