Jail, Justice, and Mental Illness CFAC Educational Seminar Held June 20

May 14, 2009

Contact: Alisha Wilkes
Phone: 614.222.3767

Jail, Justice, and Mental Illness
CFAC Educational Seminar Held June 20

Join the Consumer & Family Advocacy Council (CFAC) on Saturday, June 20 from 1-3 p.m. to learn about treatments for persons with mental illness living in jails and prisons and to learn about the Mental Health Court in Franklin County. The training will be held at the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH), 447 East Broad Street, Columbus. To reserve your spot at the training, call Phil Hedden at 614-222-3743 by June 15. Registration is free, but space is limited.

The Jail, Justice, and Mental Illness educational seminar will feature ADAMH Medical Director, Dr. Kathy Burns She is a native of Cleveland who received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Cleveland State University, her Master’s degree in Public Health from the Ohio State University, and Medical Doctor Degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Burns has been recognized as an expert in the delivery of mental health care in jails and prisons by virtue of her experience in service delivery, publications, professional organization committee work and correctional consultations in several states including Florida, California, Alabama, Michigan, New Mexico, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The second speaker, Andrea Boxill, ADAMH Mental Health Court Coordinator, who works in partnership with the Franklin County Mental Health Court with Judge Scott Van Der Karr. Proponents of the Mental Health Court, like Boxill, believe traditional options such as jail or probation do not treat the illness or break the cycle of crime. Some funding for the Mental Health Court comes from the ADAMH Board of Franklin County.

For more information about this training contact CFAC at 614-222-3743.

The Consumer and Family Advocacy Council is a voluntary group of individuals who are either recovering from mental illness or drug and alcohol addiction themselves, or have family members who are. The Council provides a network of individuals for advocacy, support to families, and advice to the ADAMH staff and Board of Trustees. Formed in 1997, the Council serves as an important sounding board for the ADAMH Board and for its service providers, as well as an educator in the community on mental health and substance abuse issues. For more information, visit www.adamhfranklin.org/consumers.