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Reinvestment Grant#RFA06H16GS1 Working Draft Rapid identification and Referral — Identification and referral of potential clients to the MHC occurs at several junctures post booking, beginning with arrest and first appearance and then continuing throughout the criminal justice process: 1. Arresting officer may note on the arrest affidavit that the offender appears to have a mental illness. 2. Booking officer may note an indication of mental illness. 3. Jail medical staff evaluates offenders within 24 hours of booking and may identify a client. 4. First appearance staff, including Assistant Public Defender housed at the jail, may identify a client. 5. Mental health professionals (including those receiving a daily list of new arrivals) with knowledge of a client's arrest may refer the case to MHC. 6. Pre-Trial Release staff may identify certain behaviors. 7. Family member of defense attorney may make a referral 3.8.5.3.3.5 The plan to screen potential participants and conduct tailored, validated needs-based assessments. Include the criteria to be used, specific screening tool(s) and validity specific to the Target Population. If specific tool(s) have not yet been selected, describe the process by which tool(s) will be selected; Assessment and identification of needs — There are two steps to the IRCMHC assessment process: 1. Pre-screen and 2. Forensic Assessment. The Pre-screen is completed at the beginning of the referral process, prior to entry, to determine if the candidate has a serious and persistent mental illness and, therefore, meets the qualifications to participate in MHC. This can be completed either at the jail, if the person is incarcerated; or, in the community if the person is out of jail on bond or conditional release. The Forensic Assessment is completed upon entry into MHC as a tool to identify needs. These MHC case managers assess each participant's needs and make recommendations to the Court, based on this individual assessment. Timely access to a MHC Case Manager is essential to assuring the success of the participants and accelerating their return to the community. IRCMHC will continue to work collaboratively with the IRC Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies to assure rapid screening, identification and ease of handoff for all identified cases being referred to MHC. The expansion plan would implement the validated Referral Decision Scale (RDS)— Brief Jail Mental Health Screen to replace an in-house tool.The Brief Jail Mental Health Screen (BJMHS)consists of eight items that can be answered as yes or no. The BJMHS is organized into two sections: the first section includes six items that ask about the occurrence of mental health symptoms in the past six months; the second section of the BJMHS includes two items that address whether a detainee was ever hospitalized for emotional or mental health problems and whether he or she is currently taking psychotropic medication. Ongoing identification of needs, with outlined opportunities and procedures for supportive and referent actions, present through the following Intercept points: Intercept 3—Jails /courts: Page 16 of 33