In the Yolo County 2016-2019 Strategic Plan, under the Safe Communities goal, is a focus area that calls for the development of a "coordinated continuum of care ranging from prevention through intensive services". To achieve this purpose, a Criminal Justice Continuum of Care work group was formed in early 2016 which includes representation from the law and justice departments (District Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff and Probation), Health and Human Services Agency, District 4 Supervisor and the County Administrator's Office. This presentation will provide an overview of the efforts and planned next steps of the Criminal Justice Continuum of Care Work Group and the associated Stepping Up Initiative.
The vision for the Work Group is as follows:
- Improve service provision to assist in preventing adults from entering or penetrating deeper into the criminal justice system;
- Reduce the number of people with mental illness in the jail system in accordance with the Stepping Up Initiative; and
- Increase information sharing and coordination among law and justice departments and service/community providers to improve services, enhance outcomes and reduce duplication of effort.
Over the course of 2017, the Work Group conducted a mapping of the criminal justice system to identify gaps and needs in services. This work was conducted in conjunction with the Stepping Up Initiative, which is a national initiative to reduce the number of individuals with mental illness in jails. A stakeholder group was formed in 2015 through the Sheriff's Office to assist in addressing this issue and has since been incorporated into the Criminal Justice Continuum of Care Work Group.
For the mapping effort, the criminal justice system was broken down into six different sections (called “intercepts”) with a subcommittee formed for each intercept. These subcommittees were made up of representatives from County Departments and community based organizations with experience in the intercept topic. These groups met over the course of approximately six months to identify gaps and needs for the criminal justice population with a focus on adults with mental illness or substance use disorders. Taken collectively the subcommittees identified over 50 gaps and needs, as well as some potential solutions.
To assist in implementing solutions, the intercept leads provided recommendations to the Criminal Justice Continuum of Care Work Group on the sixteen highest priority needs. Based on these recommendations the Work Group incorporated those sixteen items into their action plan for fiscal year 2018-19.
Next Steps
A few of the priority gaps and needs identified already have solutions underway, such as the establishment of the Urgent Care in West Sacramento or the early connection to diversion programming created through the Steps to Success program. For the remaining prioritized needs, the Continuum of Care Work Group is in the process of monitoring progress and seeking funding opportunities. Funding proposals for some of the needs have been developed and the District Attorney’s Office is assisting with grant coordination.
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