Past Convenings

2015: Diversion or Detour? National, State, and Local Perspectives for Harnessing Political Will to Drive Successful Outcomes

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Leaders in the nationwide Stepping Up movement presented nationally recognized best practices from their areas. Judicial leaders and policy experts offered an update on California’s statewide efforts and progress. Breakout sessions focused on juvenile justice, best practices from the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction Act counties’ grant programs, and how to generate political will to create meaningful collaboration among county leaders.

  • Program

    Program 2015

  • Presentation & Materials

    • Judge Richard Loftus Jr., Superior Court of Santa Clara County, The Mentally Ill and California Criminal Justice
      View Presentation
    • Christi Garfield, RN, BSN, The Center for Health Care Services, Mental Health & You App Brings Resources as Close as the Tip of Your Finger
      View Presentation

  • Attendee List

    Attendee List 2015

  • 2015 Leadership Group

    • Sharon Aungst – Correctional Healthcare Consultant
    • Kirsten Barlow – Executive Director, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California
    • Bill Brown – Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner
    • Kathleen Lacey – Program Director, UCSF/Citywide Case Management
    • Carmen Green – Executive Director, California State Sheriffs’ Association
    • Darby Kernan – Legislative Representative, California State Association of Counties
    • Elaine Linn – Words to Deeds Coordinator; Elaine Linn Creative Strategies
    • Rosie McCool – Deputy Director, Chief Probation Officers of California
    • David Meyer, Esq. – Clinical Professor, Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
    • Karen Moen – Senior Court Services Analyst, Judicial Council of California
    • Patricia Ryan – Consultant & former Executive Director, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California
    • Kevin Smith – Interim Orange County Public Guardian, Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Services
    • Linda Tomasello – Senior Governmental Program Analyst, California Highway Patrol
    • Jolena Voorhis – Executive Director, Urban Counties Caucus
    • Kit Wall – Words to Deeds Project Director; Kit Wall Productions
    • Charlie Walters – Law Enforcement Consultant
    • Molly Willenbring – Executive Director, Forensic Mental Health Association of California
    • Jenai Wyatt – Events Coordinator, California State Association of Counties
    • Helene Zentner – Field Representative, California Board of State and Community Corrections

  • Paradigm Awards

    Recognizing leaders in criminal justice and mental health who champion efforts to end criminalization of individuals with mental illness by supporting proven strategies that promote early intervention, access to effective treatments, a planned reentry, and the preservation of public safety.

    • Legislative Champion: Senator Jim Beall – California State Senator
      Presented by Judge Stephen Manley – Santa Clara County Superior Court
    • Judicial Champion: Judge Richard J. Loftus, Jr. – Santa Clara County Superior Court
      Presented by Charles Walters – Council on Mentally Ill Offenders
    • County Champion: Jo Robinson, MFT – Director, San Francisco Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health Services
      Presented by Patricia Ryan – California Behavioral Health Directors Association (Retired)
    • Behavioral Health Champion: Linda Boyd, RN, BSM, MN – Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Emergency Outreach Burea
      Presented by David Meyer, Esq. – Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine