Franklin County Mental Health Court Holds 3rd Annual Graduation

Aug 18, 2008

The Mental Health Program Docket (MHPD), a collaborative effort between the Franklin County Municipal Court and ADAMH, held its third graduation on Friday, August 15, 2008, at The Columbus Health Department. The MHPD was created in order to promote effective treatment as an alternative to incarceration for people whose symptoms of mental illness, history of treatment non-compliance, and refusal to accept treatment has resulted in a recurring pattern of misdemeanor offenses.

“Due to the collaboration of several local organizations, we are successfully moving defendants with mental illness from the judicial system to the mental health system,” Judge Scott D. VanDerKarr, who presides over the mental health court, said. “These graduates represent enormous determination and inspiration – the barriers they have overcome have been challenging, yet they have persevered and are successful today. It has been a privilege to work with these amazing individuals.”

The MHPD program requires limited court involvement in treatment planning and compliance, creating a more effective utilization of other court resources. Participants voluntarily agree to participate in the MHPD and have pleaded guilty to their charge in order to enter into the program.

“I am inspired each day by the personal success stories we see in the ADAMH system of care,” ADAMH CEO David Royer said. “By undergoing treatment for mental illness, people in the MHPD program are in recovery, proving that treatment does work. People can recover.”

The graduation was attended by several local officials, including Commissioner Paula Brooks and Columbus City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer. Attendees enjoyed a catered lunch, provided courtesy of Milo’s Catering Company.

For more information about the Franklin County Mental Health Court, contact Andrea Boxill, mental health court coordinator, at (614) 645-8511.

ADAMH is Franklin County’s authority for planning, funding and evaluating mental health, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment services. ADAMH-funded services are provided by a local network of more than 40 not-for-profit providers and offered on a sliding-fee scale, making them affordable for any county resident, regardless of income. For more information, please visit www.adamhfranklin.org.

Press Contacts
Alisha Wilkes or Aimee Shadwick
Phone: (614) 222-3767