2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
7/18/2018 | 1:40 PM - 2:55 PM | Ten Years of Mental Health Court, and What We Have Learned | Ivers-Hearst-Kearns
Ten Years of Mental Health Court, and What We Have Learned
Over the past ten years, establishing and sustaining a Mental Health Court has provided many challenges as well as offered many learning opportunities. During the development of our Mental Health Court, the program has evolved from the beginning stages of staff and process development to a more consistent process, involving many team members and community agencies. The client treatment protocol has become challenging and ever changing, with treatment ranging from mental illness to co-occurring disorders these challenges have driven the program and staff to remain flexible. During the growth of the Mental Health Court the process has improved, including evidence based screening assessments to determine clinical and risk/need levels. In addition to the internal changes, over time the Mental Health Court program has experienced many external changes with community agencies and treatment providers. During the past ten years we have experienced closing of an agency which provided direct behavioral health services, and more recently have had an additional agency discontinue adult behavioral health services, forcing our program to forge new collaborative relationships with community treatment providers. Over the past ten years McHenry County’s Mental Health Court program has proven its efficacy resulting in less than a 10% recidivism rate. Our clients have reclaimed their lives and continue to be stable members of our community.
- Key issues and pitfalls in sustaining a Mental Health Court
- Description of essential elements of Mental Health Court
- Understanding emerging issues facing Mental Health Court versus Drug Court in the future
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Presenters/Authors
Scott Block
(), McHenry County Mental Health Board, sblock@mc708.org;
Mr. Block has a Masters Degree in Counseling, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, a Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional and a Certified Court Manager. He is the current Executive Director of the McHenry County Mental Health Board. In his current capacity as the chief executive officer of the Mental Health Board, Mr. Block is primarily responsible for implementing and administering the plans and policies of the Board and managing its day-to-day activities focusing on mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual and developmental disability related services. He advises and assists the Board in carrying out its statutory responsibilities and is accountable for the Board’s overall mission and its leadership in the development of the vision for behavioral health services in McHenry County. Mr. Block sits on numerous local/state committees and he is the current Vice President of the Association of Community Mental Health Authorities of Illinois and an active Board Member of the Illinois Association of Problem-Solving Courts and Illinois Partners for Human Services.
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James Wallis
(), 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, JDWallis@22ndcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov;
James “Dan” Wallis became the trial court administrator for the Twenty Second Judicial Circuit of McHenry County, Illinois in December, 2008. The Twenty Second Judicial Circuit is a 19 judge court which handles both limited and general jurisdiction matters As court administrator Dan is responsible for all aspects of the court’s operation including strategic planning, caseflow management, court performance, budget, personnel, technology, special projects, grant writing and access to justice programs.
Prior to becoming court administrator in Illinois, Dan served the Morrow County Courts in Ohio for nearly 10 years and worked as an Adult Intensive Probation Officer, Coordinator for the Morrow County Substance Abuse Court, Director of Court Support Services and Court Administrator.
Dan has his undergraduate degree in business management and is a Certified Court Executive through the National Center for State Courts and a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management. Dan specializes in court performance measures and case management.
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Jason Sterwerf
(), 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, JGSterwerf@22ndcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov;
Jason Sterwerf MS, LPC, NCC - Mr. Sterwerf has a Master’s Degree in Counseling, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a National Certified Counselor. He is the current Director of the Office of Special Projects for the Twenty Second Judicial Circuit Court of McHenry County. In his current capacity, Mr. Sterwerf is responsible for administrative, budgetary and programmatic oversight of the Mental Health Court, Adult Drug Court and Veterans Court track as well as the Twenty Second Judicial Circuit’s Psychological Evaluations contractual agreement. Mr. Sterwerf also serves as a current Board Member of the Illinois Association of Problem-Solving Courts, and the Chairman of the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition.
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