| Session Assignment: 1716 | |
| THE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING AND TREATMENT INITIATIVE FOR THE TARRANT COUNTY PROBATIONER POPULATION | |
| Author: William Effinger | Presenter: William Effinger |
| Department: Family Medicine | |
| Research Area: Other | |
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| (1) probation, (2) mental illness, (3) recidivism | |
| WILLIAM EFFINGER, MS IV*; CHRISTOPHER MANN, DO*; MICHAEL ELLISON, PHD,LPC-S**; RON SIVERNEL, MA, LCDC-AAC, CCRC, MAFC§; KIMBERLY FULDA, DRPH*; Roberto Cardarelli, DO MPH FAAFP* *PRIMARY CARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, FORT WORTH, TX **TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, FORT WORTH, TX §COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT, TARRANT COUNTY, TX | |
| Short Description: The barrier to efficiently and effectively screening for mental health disorders is a problem nation-wide in many clinical settings. This project describes a model Mental Health Screening Program being implemented by the Primary Care Research Institute at UNTHSC that utilizes an innovative new computer-assisted Mental Health Screening Tool that was developed to enable non-Psychiatrist level counselors to efficiently and effectively provide comprehensive, standardized mental health screenings for large numbers of probationers. This new technology may be of interest to mental health professionals in several different clinical settings. | |
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Purpose: To enable Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors (LCDCs) to perform routine standardized mental health screenings for over 300 probationers at the Tarrant County Treatment Alternatives to Incarceration Program (TC-TAIP) facility in downtown Fort Worth every month.
Methods: The TC-TAIP serves probationers experiencing substance abuse problems. LCDCs provide crucial services such as chemical dependency screening and placement into treatment programs. Probationers with substance use disorders are at an increased risk for having comorbid untreated psychiatric disorders, yet probationers are not currently being screened for other mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders. There are many barriers to providing routine mental health screening services for all TC-TAIP probationers. Hiring psychiatrists to screen TC-TAIP probationers is not feasible, but screening for psychiatric disorders is beyond a LCDC’s training level. Currently, there is no validated mental health screening instrument that has been customized for efficient, effective clinical use for LCDCs in the TC-TAIP. Results: A novel solution has been developed by the Mental Health Screening and Treatment Initiative (MHSTI) team. The project model utilizes innovative new technology in the form of a computer-assisted Mental Health Screening Tool to enable non-psychiatrist LCDCs to perform standardized mental health screenings and decide which probationers need to be referred for a more comprehensive psychiatric assessment. This technology system should allow all non-psychiatrist LCDCs at the downtown Fort Worth location TC-TAIP to effectively and efficiently provide mental health screening services for all the probationers they interview. Conclusions: The implementation of this model mental health screening program will be a key step towards the development of a comprehensive mental health screening and treatment program for this underserved probation population. This program will have significant community and public health implications by reducing recidivism, and making a safer and more productive Texas. The barrier to efficiently and effectively screening for mental health disorders is a problem for the criminal justice system nation-wide. Innovations developed in building this model program may have implications beyond the criminal justice system as well. |
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