New Program in California: Telecare EMPOWER
/We are pleased to announce that Telecare EMPOWER opened on March 8, 2021!
Read MoreWe are pleased to announce that Telecare EMPOWER opened on March 8, 2021!
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Read MoreWe are pleased to announce that the Muriel Wright CRT program opened on February 18, 2020!
Read MoreWe are pleased to announce that the San Joaquin Connect II program opened on September 22, 2019!
Read MoreWe are pleased to announce that Vida ACT opened September 16, 2019!
Read MoreAt the California National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Annual Conference 2019 in Newport Beach, California, Telecare’s Sarah Nudel and Robin Weintraub were honored to present on the Behavioral Health Court Model, a specific program type designed to serve individuals who have mental health needs and are involved with the criminal justice system. We are pleased to share the presentation below.
Telecare Corporation has provided services to individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring justice involvement issues for more than 15 years. The focus of this year’s NAMI CA presentation was the Behavioral Health Court (BHC) model, a treatment modality that Telecare offers for the community through programs in Orange County and San Diego County, California.
The BHC model has been a productive and effective model to support individuals with serious mental illness who are on probation, to help them regain and maintain stability, fulfill the obligations of their probation requirements, prevent recidivism into the criminal justice system, and take steps toward a healthier future, a more stable life, and meaningful roles in the community.
The Behavioral Health Court Model is a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders. Here’s the BHC role breakdown:
Focus on mental health treatment
Sensitive to privacy
Recovery-focused
Community linkages
Mental health visits at home/in the field
Teach effective choice-making
Power aware
Seek to awaken internal motivation
Focus on accountability
Community supervision
Monitor conditions of release (COR)
Community linkages
Perform visits and searches at home
Focused on compliance, not choice
Power-over
Use COR and sanctions as external motivation
Program length is a minimum of 18 months, but members typically stay 2-3 years.
BHC is a day program model where clients participate in groups based on where they are in their recovery process in the program. Programming focuses on evidence-based practices to support recovery, reduce criminogenic behaviors, and support the individual in making forward progress in the program. Case managers link members to community resources.
After graduation, members are transferred to outpatient clinics at an equal or lower level of care depending on the presenting need.
Sarah Nudel, Administrator at PROPS, CORE, and BHC
Robin Weintraub, Administrator at Whatever It Takes (WIT)
September is National Recovery month. It is a time dedicated toward educating Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with symptoms of a mental health diagnosis and/or substance use to live healthy, rewarding lives.
At Telecare, we not only treat those with co-occurring disorders, but also take pride in employing former clients who have lived experienced and continue in their recovery journey. Christina Roberts, a driver at Telecare STEPS Orange County, shares her inspiring example. By harnessing life’s setbacks, Christina has shown that it’s possible to navigate to destinations the previously may have seemed impossible.
“When I come into work now, I'm giving back. I can relate. I had a drug and alcohol problem. I now have two years clean. I struggled with homelessness, drug addiction, and mental illness. I hope that I can just take one member and lead them in the right direction and help change their life like it's changed my life,” said Christina.
After getting into trouble and ending up in front of a judge for sentencing, Roberts was given two choices: serve jail time or participate in the Orange County Collaborative Court (WIT) program. WIT, which stands for “Whatever It Takes,” began in 2012 as a collaboration between Telecare and the mental health courts of Orange County. It’s a four-phase, voluntary program where members who have a demonstrated history of mental illness are put on conditional release from prison.
While in WIT, they are required to be sober, transition up to new phases, and ultimately graduate from the program. The goal is to equip those in recovery with new skills and resources—things they might not receive through incarceration.
“To be honest, I had a relapse. It was too much. It was overwhelming. I was scared. I didn't want to follow directions. I wouldn't submit to the program,” she admitted. “I got arrested. When I got arrested, I had to serve some time, but then Telecare took me back. They gave me a second chance. WIT stands for ‘Whatever It Takes,’ and they stood by what that means.”
Christina then fully embraced WIT, the support groups, and most importantly, her peers. Actively participating in the programs is also what helped her find her true calling—wanting to go from Telecare member to Telecare employee.
“When I came back from my relapse, I told my probation officer and the staff at Telecare that I was going to work for Telecare. I didn't know how it was going to happen. A few months later, I spoke at an FSP luncheon and I got three job offers,” Christina said.
She chose to accept the offer as a driver at STEPS and hasn't looked back.
Christina credits Telecare for being the driving force in her personal recovery—a force that stood with her and believed in her when no one else did.
“Telecare saved my life,” said Christina. “It provided stability, and it's shown me how to become a productive member of society. It taught me that I can make it in this world and have a mental illness.”
50 Years of Services to People With Serious Mental Illness