Criminal Justice
Coordinating Center
of Excellence

Promoting Jail Diversion Alternatives for People with Mental Health Disorders

Logo for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of ExcellenceThe NEOMED Department of Psychiatry Coordinating Centers of Excellence, which includes the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence, the Ohio Program for Campus Safety and Mental Health and the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center, understand that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is having a major impact on all of us. In accordance with our centers’ missions, we want to provide resources for those affected by serious mental illness and their loved ones.  Please see the resources below for recommendations, guidelines and tips for maintaining good mental health during this pandemic. We also encourage you to engage in self-care, manage your media exposure, stay connected with resources and networks, and to visit NEOMED’s Department of Psychiatry webpage regularly for updates.

Ohio Governor approves $4M grant to NEOMED for diversion program training and technical assistance

A new Substance Use Deflection Center of Excellence within NEOMED’s existing Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence will be established to undertake this work. The center will also conduct research on enhancing the effectiveness of deflection and diversion programs.

Full story.

About CJ CCOE

The Ohio Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence promotes jail diversion alternatives for people with mental health disorders.

More on the Center

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs across the country help direct persons with mental illness into treatment instead of inappropriate incarceration.

More on the Crisis Intervention Team

Jail Diversion Research

Providing research to discern program mechanisms and characteristics to determine how diversion programs work and for whom.

More on Jail Diversion Research

Sequential Intercept Model

Working with SAMHSA’s National GAINS Center, the CJ CCoE developed a conceptual model to approach the over-representation of people with mental illness.

More on the Sequential Intercept Model

Alcoholics Anonymous online meetings

American College Health Association has created a guide to help college health staff and campus administrators address COVID-19 on campus.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America Psychologist Jelena Kecmanovic provides some science-based strategies and tips for coping with COVID-19 anxiety.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers many helpful information resources:

The Child Mind Institute has a resource on how to talk to young people about COVID-19.

COVID-19 and Unemployment

Health Resources and Services Administration Telehealth Resource Centers provide assistance, education and information to organizations and individuals who are actively providing or interested in providing health care at a distance, especially those in rural and underserved populations. See centers in the United States.

The Lancet offers A Rapid Review: The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Resources

Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services

Policy Research, Inc. Release to What?  Behavioral Health-Based Strategies to Address COVID-19 Psychiatric Times

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration tips and resources related to mental health and social distancing/isolation

World Health Organization information on travel, media resources and other research on COVID-19.

Please share additional resources by emailing bestcenter@neomed.edu.

Encouraging the mental health and criminal justice systems to work together to improve the quality of life of those residents of Ohio who suffer from mental disorders and who are at risk of finding their way unnecessarily into the criminal justice system.

Contact

Phone: 330.325.6861
Email: cjccoe@neomed.edu

Ohio Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence

A NEOMED Coordinating Center of Excellence