Program Description

Mental Health Diagnostic and Evaluation Units, Jefferson County, Alabama

Overview

Under the guidance of the Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health Authority (JBSMHA), the Jefferson County Community Partnership (JCCP) was awarded a $5.9 million dollar grant to more formally establish Jefferson County’s system of care. As part of this initiative, the JCCP established four Diagnostic and Evaluation (D&E) Units in Jefferson County, including two units in schools, one in the child welfare agency, and one in the Family Court (which is the focus of this summary). The program was initially funded through a SAMHSA/CMHS grant that required matching funds. Local sustainability began in FY 2005, with the Family Court of Jefferson County pledging enough funds to sustain the court at 75 percent of its level under the Federal grant. Several characteristics of JCCP encourage collaboration, including their oversight of the SAMHSA grant and matching funds, and a multi-needs facilitation team. Furthermore, there is a strong history of collaboration within Jefferson County agencies. Daily contacts between program staff and probation and the co-location of these staff in the courthouse help foster collaboration.

The Court D&E unit serves approximately 170 youth per year between 5 and 21 years of age who reside in Jefferson County and who meet the Alabama State Department of Mental Health’s definition for Serious Emotional Disturbance. To be eligible, youth must have a DSM-IV diagnosis and either previous separation from family due to emotional or behavioral disturbance and/or significant functional impairments at home, school, and/or in the community and must be at risk for placement if services are not received.

The goal of the court unit is to complete a timely assessment of the youth and their family and develop an individualized service plan. Referrals to the court unit come from probation intake or from the family court judge. Referrals from probation intake include cases in which charges will be filed and cases that are diverted at probation intake without charges being filed. A master’s level professional, known as a D&E specialist, performs an initial mental health and substance abuse screen and determines which youth need to be referred for further evaluation. The D&E specialist also provides mental health consultation to school personnel, probation officers, and social workers. A family advocate is often present for the initial screen. Evaluations are provided by either the D&E specialist or a licensed psychologist under contract to the unit. A range of mental health services are provided directly by the court unit, including medication monitoring, crisis intervention, and coordinated case management services. Out-patient therapy is provided on-site by a full-time therapist who receives referrals from the D&E specialist. Court unit staff also includes a part-time psychiatrist, two full-time case managers, and a family advocate. In addition to these on-site staff, the JCCP contracts with 17 additional providers to whom youth can be referred.

Youth are discharged from the program once individualized service plan goals have been met and the terms of their probation have been completed. Many youth actually choose to remain in the program after probation has ended because of the program’s accessibility and flexibility. The average length of involvement is 18 months.

References

Personal communication with Tim Dollard, Project Director, Jefferson County Community Partnership.

Site visit to program on July 13, 2004.

Program Contact

Tim Dollard, M.S., L.P.C.
Project Director, Jefferson County Community Partnership
Director of Children’s Services
JBS Mental Health Authority
Phone: 205-443-2224