Monday, November 4, 2019
A Sessions - 11:00am - 12:00pm
A1: Guideline for Development and Implementation of Functional Prescriptions in Forensic Rehabilitation
11:00am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Forensic
Description:
The functional prescription is a tool that outlines the daily and weekly tasks, and life skills, that are expected for the client to accomplish and routinely engage in in order to ensure forward progression in their rehabilitation journey. It is designed to capture the activities expected to be accomplished within a one-week time frame. This allows both the client and staff to monitor a client’s adherence to the agreed upon expectations. The functional prescription is developed via a multidisciplinary and client collaboration, and it is individualized to fit each client’s unique needs. It is also designed to reflect the day-to-day realities and expectations of various community placements in order to encourage discharge readiness and successful community reintegration. We have found that functional prescriptions have also been a great collaborative tool for all multidisciplinary members to participate in. This tool is in the early phases of implementation and we have recently begun to collect data on its effectiveness.
Presenters:
Guillaume Tremblay, Nurse Practitioner
Jason Rice, Occupational Therapist
Anik Gosselin, Psychologist
Bios:
Guillaume Tremblay recently came to the Royal in September 2018 as the first nurse practitioner to join the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, and currently practices at the Brockville Mental Health Centre. He is certified in Medical Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Guillaume has a Master of Nursing from Athabasca University.
Jason Rice, BA (Psych), MSc.OT, OT Reg. (Ont.), is a Forensic Treatment Unit (FTU) occupational therapist at the Brockville Mental Health Centre. Jason is currently the professional practice lead for occupational therapy at the Brockville Mental Health Centre.
Dr. Anik Gosselin is a Forensic, Clinical and Neuropsychologist, clinical professor at the University of Ottawa. She works as a full time psychologist at the Brockville Mental Health Centre. Her research interests focus mainly on better understanding variables impacting cognition and emotion regulation among forensic patients to improve clinical outcomes.
A2: Facilitators and Barriers to Building Collaborative and Sustainable Interventions
11:00am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
Over the past decade, considerable resources have been spent to implement and validate innovative programs and strategies in youth justice. As these evidence-based programs have proliferated and matured, the need for research to understand the conditions and processes necessary to sustain them has also increased. This workshop will present research findings from a pilot study that explored the barriers and facilitators in building a mental health screening model for youth in the justice system. In 2015, the Niagara community launched a new model, the Niagara Youth Court Screening Initiative (NYCSI), where first appearance youth at court are screened for mental health and addiction issues. This intervention has seen great success in Niagara, and has been scaled up in other youth courts across Ontario. The study describes first hand perspectives of personnel and community stakeholders who were involved in developing and implementing the screening model. Participants will learn about the key ingredients that have made this intervention sustainable over time, and they will be able to use this knowledge in developing similar sustainable interventions in their own communities
Presenters:
Marla Banning, CAMH
Debbie Chiodo, CAMH
Mike Taylor, Youth Resources Niagara
Bios:
Marla Banning is an Implementation Specialist in the Provincial Systems Support Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She works on a variety of projects including scaling up Youth Court Screening Initiatives, the implementation of Staged Screening and Assessment Tools and supporting the Youth Wellness Hub in Niagara.
Debbie Chiodo, PhD is an Evaluator at CAMH and a Professor at Western University. Debbie was a co-lead in the evaluation of the Ontario Unified Family Court System, the evaluation of the Office of the Child’s Advocate, and the assessment of province-wide foster care placements for children in child welfare care.
Mike Taylor is currently the Executive Director of Youth Resources Niagara (YRN). This agency provides residential and community based programs/services for the youth justice and children’s mental health systems. Mike consistently engages in community capacity building initiatives that seek to promote and develop strong multi-systemic community organizational ties.
A3: Upstreaming Prevention: The Embedded Crown Community Mental Health Intervention Project
11:00am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
This session will describe the implementation of the Embedded Crown Pilot Project which locates a Crown Attorney, along with a Mental Health Diversion Worker, inside the 51 Division of the Toronto Police Service. This project distinguishes itself as the funding is specifically directed to Diversion Workers who have lived experience. There have been a few challenges, but many opportunities resulting from the contrast of cultures. More timely access to the diversion process and the provision of supports has most importantly resulted in better outcomes for the accused. Non-accused, vulnerable individuals in the community have also benefited from this enhanced collaboration between the social service, criminal justice sector and police services for both prevention and safety and well-being.
Presenters:
Lana Frado, Sound Times Support Services
Alan Spiegel, 51 Division, Toronto Police Service
Detective Sergeant Dan Hoffmeyer, 51 Division, Toronto Police Service
Bios:
Lana Frado has worked in community mental health for the past three decades advocating for the rights of the mental health and addictions community and for governmental and system accountability. She has worked with the broader disability community and has been the Executive Director of Sound Times for 25 years.
Alan Spiegel started with the Ministry of the Attorney General in 2000 after completing his articles with Eddie Greenspan and Marie Henein. During his tenure at the Crown’s Office, he prosecuted the full range of criminal charges, developing particular experience in cases of child exploitation, firearms and homicide. From January 2018 to April 2019, he was the Embedded Crown Attorney at 51 Division in Toronto where he worked with Sound Times to develop the Mental Health Community Intervention Program
A4: HSJCC: Crossroads in Mental Health Crisis and Law Enforcement
11:00am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
Evolving social, economic and fiscal realities have created a strain in the treatment of mental illness. As a result of this strain, police services often become the first line of contact between a person in crisis and available resources. Police services have had to adapt to this new reality and find collaborative approaches to resolve these difficult sometimes violent situations. The emergence of mobile crisis teams, situation tables and better training for front line officers have made an impact for some, but the need for a more integrated strategy still exists. This presentation will focus on the York Regional Police integrated strategy which includes all of the above and additional resources including the digitized Brief Mental Health Screener, two full time social workers, a seniors safety unit which specializes in issues such as dementia and vulnerable persons, and Police/Hospitals Relations Committees as well as other resources and future plans.
Presenters:
S/Sgt Jason McIlveen # 998
Bios:
Jason McIlveen has been a police officer for over 20 years with York Regional Police. He is currently the Officer in Charge of the Community Safety and Well Being Unit which oversees the Mental Health Support Teams, two Social Workers, Seniors Safety Unit, Vulnerable Persons Registration and Crime Prevention Unit. He has a passion for mental health awareness and loves his job!
A5: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities through a Justice Clinical Lens
11:00am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
In response to the 2016 Ombudsman of Ontario Report, the Community Networks of Specialized Care set out to create a refreshed mandate with a goal to provide individuals with high support and complex care needs access to effective and timely supports. As a result of this, the role of the Dual Diagnosis Justice Coordinator (DDJC) was improved by strengthening cross-sector partnerships; and providing a clinical lens across all sectors to better support individuals with developmental disabilities. The role of the DDJC is to assist the individual to prepare for all aspects of their court matter using a biopsychosocial approach and principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis when needed. The DDJC works with other court support staff, justice professionals and the individual to ensure they receive the supports they require to experience the justice system in a fair and equitable manner. This process will be highlighted and operationalized by reviewing case examples.
Presenters:
Marnie McDermott, Community Networks of Specialized Care – Central East
Courtney Hutson, Community Networks of Specialized Care – HKPR/Durham
Vicky Simos, Community Networks of Specialized Care – York/Simcoe
Bios:
Marnie McDermott is the Network Manager with Community Networks of Specialized Care-Central East. She received her Masters of Social Work from McGill University. She has worked in the developmental service sector supporting persons with complex needs for over 30 years.
Courtney Hutson is a Dual Diagnosis Justice Coordinator with Community Networks of Specialized Care (HKPR/Durham). She received her Masters of Criminology from Adler University. Courtney has worked for the Psychology Department for Central East Correctional Centre as well as for Canadian Mental Health Association HKPR in Justice Services.
Vicky Simos is a Dual Diagnosis Justice Coordinator with Community Networks of Specialized Care (York/Simcoe). She received her Masters of Applied Disability Studies from Brock University, specializing in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Vicky is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with 12 years experience working with children/adolescence/adults with developmental disabilities.
A6: Systemic Cognitive-Communication Risks and the Law
11:00am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
Although legal systems are grounded in human social communication, empirical research has cast serious doubt on the average person’s ability to meet the communication challenges that social-legal settings present. For individuals with cognitive-communication disorders, however, the situation is less one of passive systemic challenge and more one of active systemic risk: legal contexts are marked by language and communication features that can burden nearly every aspect of social communication, and an individual’s ability to overcome these burdens may have serious social and legal consequences. This presentation will integrate legal and scientific expertise to describe the systemic cognitive-communication risks that lay persons (particularly with cognitive-communication deficits) can expect to encounter. Interventions that clinical, legal, and social-work professionals can adopt to assist clients with cognitive-communication challenges and to help reduce the systemic risks that social-legal contexts impose will also be presented.
Presenters:
Joseph A. Wszalek, JD, PhD
Bios:
Joseph Wszalek, JD, PhD (UW-Madison School of Nursing) was the inaugural member of the University of Wisconsin’s “Neuroscience and Public Policy” program in neuroscience and the law. He completed his thesis work in the lab of Dr. Lyn Turkstra, where he studied the cognitive and neural bases of social-legal communication. Throughout his graduate studies he gained a broad range of interdisciplinary experiences across the law and academic sciences, and his scholarship was recognized and awarded by such diverse organizations as the US Department of Education, the International Neuroethics Society, and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. After graduating with honors and Order of the Coif, he spent a year working for a clinical program through the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he helped establish and run a medical-legal partnership for low-income and underserved patients. His current research explores the conceptualization, representation, and ethical risks of legal language.
Monday, November 4, 2019
B Sessions - 1:00pm - 2:30pm
B1: Older Adults and the Justice System
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
For the first time ever, there are more Canadians aged 65 and older than Canadians below age 15. All areas of the justice system are encountering the older adult population daily and with increasing frequency. Many of these cases pertain to age-related conditions like dementia, mental health conditions, and/or substance misuse. The traditional justice system is not designed to meet the needs of this vulnerable population.
The Provincial HSJCC has created a navigational guidebook for older adults and adults with age-related conditions who interact with the justice system. The guidebook will assist caregivers and the human services and justice sectors understand dementia and related conditions and the unique needs of this population in the justice system. The guidebook explores housing options, consent and capacity, substitute decision-making, and promotes best practices in policing, courts, forensic mental health and correctional settings. Resources for specific services are highlighted throughout the guide.
Presenters:
Christine Conrad, CMHA Ontario
Bios:
Christine Conrad is a policy analyst at CMHA Ontario and supports the Provincial HSJCC. Previously, she was program advisor to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and to the former Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Christine was called to the bar in 2016 after articling with Legal Aid Ontario.
B2: A Needs Assessment for Planning Mental Health and Justice Housing
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
For people with justice involvement and mental health or addictions issues, supportive housing can foster stable lives, better health, and reduced service use. But who sets priorities when needs are complex and multiple service systems are involved? CMHA Toronto and Wellesley Institute have partnered with AMHO and the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness in a community-led initiative. Their 2019 justice-focused project is developing a consensus-based, evidence-informed plan for action in supportive housing. This includes identifying the housing and support needs of this population; documenting successes, gaps, and shortfalls in existing programs; and pointing to priorities and next steps. This project is one component of broader efforts to develop a supportive housing growth plan for Toronto. The workshop will describe this justice-focused work and the resulting findings and recommendations. It will point to funding opportunities, and include reflections on adapting this approach in other Ontario communities.
Presenters:
Steve Lurie, CMHA Toronto
Frank Sirotich, CMHA Toronto
Jessica Petrillo, AMHO
Greg Suttor, Wellesley Institute
Irma Molina, CMHA Toronto
Dana Granofsky, Research Consultant
Bios:
Steve Lurie C.M. is the Executive Director of CMHA Toronto and the chair of the Toronto Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee since 1998.
Frank Sirotich, PhD. is Director of Research and Evaluation at CMHA Toronto, the formerly chair of the Scarborough HSJCC and member of the Toronto HSJCC.
Jessica Petrillo is a Policy Analyst at AMHO, bringing experience in research as well as front-line work in the mental health and addictions sector.
Greg Suttor, PhD. is a senior researcher at Wellesley Institute, with focus areas including housing needs, housing policy, and supportive housing.
Irma Molina is Peer Program Evaluation Project Coordinator at CMHA Toronto.
Dana Granofsky is a consultant specializing in research, housing policy, and stakeholder engagement.
B3: Mental Health Engagement And Response Team(MHEART): Why Crisis Response should be Multi-Sectoral and Flexible
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
After years of program reorganization, and re-deployment of resources to meet the needs of individuals in mental health crisis; and coinciding with the creation of the Northumberland County Situation Table, the MHEART program was created. This workshop will share the lived experiences of clients and team members in the development of a this innovative and collaborative crisis response program designed to meet the needs of a urban and rural mental health population.
Presenters:
Jennifer Cox, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
Amy Eriksson MSW
Constable Nick Moeller, Coburg Police Services
Matthew Suurd, Registered Psychiatric Nurse
Constable Nancy Wagner, OPP Northumberland County
Bios:
Jennifer Cox has worked in the field of mental health for 20 years, her role is an integrated leadership role with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Northumberland Hills Hospital and Campbellford Memorial Hospital.
Amy Eriksson has a Master of Social Work degree and has been working in the mental health and addiction field of 17 years.
Nick Moeller started his career with the Toronto Police Service in 2001. In 2016 Nick transitioned to the Cobourg Police Service, and is now the Mental Health Resource Officer.
Matthew Suurd is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and has been working in mental health for 10 years including forensic, crisis and inpatient programs.
Constable Nancy Wagner is the Mental Health Liaison Officer with the Ontario Provincial Police in Northumberland County and part of the Mental Health Engagement and Response Team.
B4: KOSSS Land Based and Youth Awareness Program
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
KOSSS Land Based and Intervention Program is helps students refocus their priorities about school and life. It is a place where teachers and elders come in and work with students to help them learn about their identity, history, culture and learn about the land through hunting and fishing with lessons and stories that pertain to living in harmony with Creation. Scheduled programming educates students about healthy boundaries, rules, safety, exercises that are based on affirmations, journaling, trust building, life teachings and the creation story. Students do a plan of self-care; as well as look at all the supports that can be accessed and utilized. KOSSS offers a place of safety and security for KOSSS students to work through issues and provides life skill tools to start and continue personal healing.
Presenters:
Toinette Kakepetum
Nicole McKay
Bios:
Toinette Kakepetum is the Well Being Coordinator for KOSSS. Toinette has worked with youth for the last 20 years.
Nicole McKay is a Land Base Program Coordinator. Nicole enjoys working with youth, being out on the land.
B5: Made in Thunder Bay
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
The Joint-Mobile Crisis Response Pilot Project is an innovative partnership between Canadian Mental Health Association – Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Police Service, and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Crisis workers partner with police to respond to mental health-related 911 calls. This presentation will highlight the Transfer of Care Protocol that was collaboratively developed between police, hospital and crisis response prior to the project launch. This agreement created a shared understanding among community partners about processes and protocols related to transfers of care between police, hospital and crisis response.
This presentation will highlight early successes of the project since its launch by sharing data and lessons learned from the perspective of police, hospital and crisis response. Presenters will outline next steps for the pilot project, which include building upon the JMCR project infrastructure to enhance crisis services.
Presenters:
Jennifer Hyslop, CMHA Thunder Bay
Evelyne LeBlanc, CMHA Thunder Bay
Lisa Beck, TBRHSC
Inspector Ryan Gibson
Dr. Mandy McMahan, TBRHSC
Bios:
Jennifer Hyslop is the Chief Executive Officer at CMHA Thunder Bay. She holds an Honors Bachelor of Social Work (First Class Standing) from Lakehead University. She has held various leadership roles in the health care and child welfare sector.
Evelyne LeBlanc is the Crisis Response Manager at CMHA Thunder Bay. She has over 19 years of experience as a mental health service provider. Evelyne is a Certified Crisis Worker, a Certified Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator, and a Deescalating Potentially Violent Situations, Police Mental Health and Mental Health Works trainer.
Lisa Beck is the Director of the Trauma Program, Critical Care, Emergency Services; the Nurse-led Outreach Team at the TBRHSC. She has over 29 years of health care experience, including 11 years as an ICU nurse, 10 years as an Educator, and 8 years as an Admin Program Director.
Inspector Ryan Gibson has served in Patrol, CIB, Intelligence, OPC, and Community Service. He is very proud of a youth group he leads being recognized for volunteerism. He holds a Degree in political science and is a retired Canadian Forces member. He is married to Jennifer and has three boys.
Mandy McMahan, Ph.D., C.Psych. is the Director of Adult and Forensic Mental Health and Psychosocial Professional Practice Head at the TBRHSC. Previously, she served as a Clinical and Health Psychologist providing clinical, supervision, and research services at the TBRHSC. Dr. McMahan is with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine faculty.
B6: Acquired Brain Injury and Addictions/Mental Health Collaborative
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
Over several months, a 20-member, multi-sector (hospital and community-based rehabilitation, hospital and community-based mental health and addictions and women’s shelter) and lived experience working group in Southeastern Ontario (SEO) met to develop a mechanism for addressing the complex, unmet needs of adults with moderate-to-severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) complicated by mental health/addictions issues. The Working Group developed the referral process, inclusion and exclusion criteria, consent process and forms, discussion format, and performance indicators for three new collaboratives that cover the region.
The purpose of the ABI and Addictions/Mental Health Collabortive is to develop capacity to address complex, unmet needs using a shared-care model incorporating discussion about sequential/concurrent care. The SEO ABI System Navigator coordinates monthly “rounds,” with Collaborative members, including Physiatry, Psychiatry, Addictions, and community service providers, to address unmet needs of people meeting specified criteria including presence of high-risk factors.
Presenters:
Dawn Downey
Bios:
Dawn Downey has a Masters of Art in Leadership and Training. She worked with a community-based Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Support service in Southeastern Ontario for almost 30 years, most of that time as the Program Manager. Since recent “retirement” she has been contracted as a project and process facilitator, to address team or system issues. Dawn was hired for one year for what became the ABI and Addictions/Mental Health Collaborative.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Breakfast Sessions - 8:00am - 9:00am
BP1: Psychosocial characteristics of persons seen in a rural mental health court clinic
8:00am – 9:00am
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
An oral presentation of preliminary findings from the implementation of a rural Mental Health Court Clinic established in January 2018. The MHCC caters to the mental health treatment needs of persons going through the court system. This presentation will describe the psychosocial correlates of clinic participants, the clinic process, organisational characteristics and challenges of an innovative restorative community justice intervention.
Presenters:
Krista Biccum
Stacey Shanks
Ute White
Shawn Souder
AG Ahmed
Bio:
Krista Biccum has been working in mental health for over 16 years, and has held a number of different positions throughout her tenure. As the Adult Court Support Caseworker, she provides consultation,assessment, court diversion plans, court education, and mental health referral to individuals experiencing mental health concerns who are residents of Leeds Grenville or have been charges with an offence in Leeds & Grenville. Krista has provided numerous presentations on both mental illness as well as suicide. In addition, she has received training in Suicide intervention, and is a facilitator for the Self Abuse Finally Ends program.
BP2: Mobile Integrated Team: Creating Capacity Through Mobile Response
8:00am – 9:00am
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
The Mobile Integrated Team is a joint pilot project between Lutheran Community Care Centre, Community Living Thunder Bay and Options Northwest. We provide a flexible and responsive model of support to adults with developmental disabilities and other multi-sector, complex needs in the community of Thunder Bay. This program supports individuals who do not traditionally access mainstream services and are living independently to access community supports and services that will enrich their lives. With a determined focus on community collaboration, MIT strives to increase access and grow the relationship between individuals and community organizations.
BP3: Survivors of Homicide Victims and Mental Health
8:00am – 9:00am
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
Family members and friends of victims of homicide violence face mental, physical, and spiritual health challenges as they learn to survive without their loved one. However, research has historically focused on perpetrators and victims of homicide violence and has neglected to examine the post-homicide experiences of surviving family members and friends. The scarcity of research further perpetuates disparities in mental health and leaves policy makers and practitioners with little data to develop culturally responsive and evidenced-based interventions.
Dr. Tanya Sharpe and her team at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, CMHA Ontario and other partners collaborated to engage with survivors of homicide victims and their service providers across the province. This presentation will advance participants’ understanding of the needs of this population, identify promising culturally relevant approaches to practice and determine where supports are needed to serve specific populations.
Presenters:
Dr. Tanya L. Sharpe, University of Toronto
Uppala Chandrasekera, CMHA Ontario
Bios:
Dr. Tanya Sharpe is an Associate Professor and The Factor-Inwentash Chair in Social Work in the Global Community, at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. She has extensive training and interdisciplinary practice and research experience related to the development and implementation of community based violence prevention and intervention strategies.
Uppala Chandrasekera, M.S.W., RSW, is the Director of Public Policy at CMHA Ontario, where she provides leadership in six program areas. Through her research, published writings and work in the community, Uppala examines the impact of the lived experience of discrimination and racism on the health, mental health and wellbeing of marginalized populations.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
C Sessions - 10:30am - 12:00pm
C1: System Navigation in a complex world – SUPRISE it’s NOT broken!
10:30am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
System Navigation/Service Resolution regularly assembles service providers and organizational management representing a range of sectors (e.g., mental health, addictions, housing, police, family services, and other community services) to strategize on ways to meet the needs of individuals who are having the most serious difficulties. System Navigation/Service Resolution is by design very individualistic in focus. It supports front-line workers in collaborative problem solving, facilitates interagency case conferencing, and, when necessary, triggers system level interventions, all at the level of individual cases. Using a mock case conference style, this presentation will be identify how this process works and the outcomes that it has provided for youth in the Peel region.
Presenters:
Kim Paumier
Bio:
Kim Paumier has been working in Mental Health and Addictions for over 23 years and has been the System Coordination for complex youth in Peel since the inception of that role over 5 years ago.
C2: Alternative Resolution Court – How do we spell SUCCESS?
10:30am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
The Peel Alternative Resolution Court is a collaborative approach in a “therapeutic judicial” environment at the A Grenville and William Davis Court. ARC supports individuals who are living with mental illness, developmental and intellectual delay, dual diagnosis, concurrent disorders, acquired brain injury and age related illnesses who come into contact with the justice system. The aim of this court is to redirect individuals from the criminal justice system to community and social supports. This process promotes recovery and reduces recidivism by approaching people with respect and dignity thus empowering positive change. The presenters will outline the collaborative approach created in this court for vulnerable people and for those who may not fare well in the regular court stream. Not all who attend ARC will compete their matters without sanctions, although they may be better suited, supported and served in our smaller, more intimate environment.
Presenters:
The Honourable Justice Sandra Martins, Ontario Court of Justice
The Honourable Justice of the Peace Karen Murphy
Lucy Rasmussen, Assistant Crown Attorney
Christine Lund, Defence Council/Duty Council
Karen McCallum, Peel Regional Police Court Liaison Officer
Shelly Schneider, Manager, Mental Health and Justice, CMHA Peel Dufferin
C3: Mobilizing Communities, Preventing Harm: The North West Community Mobilization Network
10:30am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
This presentation will provide an overview of the Northwest Regional Centre of Responsibility (formerly known as the Northwest Regional HSJCC). It will explain how the Kenora Rainy River District HSJCC and Northwest Regional HSJCC integrated principles of the Hub/Situation Table model into its HSJCC structure.
Presenters will share local data and experiences from mobilized Situation Tables in Kenora and Thunder Bay. They will highlight key successes that resulted from this alignment, including increased membership engagement, better collaboration and improved coordination of services for people with complex needs in conflict with the law. Presenters will discuss how data from Situation Tables and other local planning tables has been used to support and identify emerging systemic issues for discussion using the Northwest Regional Centre of Responsibility Issues Management Framework.
Presenters:
Mariah Maddock, NWCOR
Sara Dias, CMHA Kenora
Constable Robert Bernie
Bios:
Mariah Maddock, MPH is the North West Community Mobilization Network Coordinator. She supports the Northwest Regional Centre of Responsibility (formerly known as NWR-HSJCC). Mariah was instrumental in mobilizing the Thunder Bay Situation Table and contributed to a regional engagement strategy to mobilize Situation Tables in the District of Thunder Bay.
Sara Dias, MSW is the Executive Director of CMHA Kenora, Co-Chair of the RISK Steering Committee, Northwest Regional Centre of Responsibility (COR), KRRD-HSJCC & Provincial HSJCC. She also serves as Chair of the Kenora Police Services Board. Sara was instrumental in establishing the Mental Health Court in Kenora.
C4: Collaborative Crisis Response Models: A Framework and Toolkit For Police, Mental Health & Addiction
10:30am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
Over the past 20 years in Ontario, there has been ongoing development and implementation of collaborative crisis response teams that involve police and mental health and addiction service providers responding to front line crisis. While great successes have been seen, there remains significant variance in existing collaborative crisis models across the province which has created challenges in evidence-based evaluation and sustainable funding. In January 2019 a cross sector, multi-disciplinary team emerged to begin to research, analysis, data collection, and most promising practises from these varying models.
This presentation will provide an overview of the Collaborative Crisis Response Model Provincial Working Group and their work to date including a framework and toolkit that offers core components and common approaches for successful development and/or enhancements for a model in your community to support a more effective response from the 9-1-1 call through the continuum of service for persons experiencing mental health and/or addictions crisis.
Presenters:
Christine Conrad, CMHA Ontario
Lisa Longworth, Ontario Provincial Police, Community Safety Services
Brooke Young, MSW, RSW, Director of Services, Regional, CMHA Waterloo Wellington Branch
Bios:
Lisa Longworth is a Program Analyst who began work with the OPP after 26 years in the social services sector mental health and addictions, and her last 10 years in clinical work. Her role with the Ontario Provincial Police Community Safety Services is as the Provincial Lead to support the ongoing community collaboration between police and their valued partners in mental health and addictions.
Christine Conrad is a Policy Analyst and the Justice Lead for CMHA Ontario. She maintains a strong role providing policy advisement to the Provincial Human Service Justice Coordinating Committee. She is a strong advocate of collaboration and partnership and provides her legal expertise background in all her work.
Brooke Young works as a Director of Service at CMHA Waterloo Wellington supporting staff to deliver Mental Health and Justice services, Integrated Police And Crisis Teams, Here 24/7 and Peer Support and Self Help services. Throughout her career, Brooke has worked in a variety of areas including Child Protection, Sexual Assault Treatment, Children’s Mental Health, Crisis Intervention, LGBTQ Services and System Planning. As a Social Worker with a previous career in Information Technology, Brooke is always looking for new ways to improve services and leverage technology to support better quality care. Brooke is an action oriented change-maker who pushes people to think differently about how they do what they do every day.
Lisa and Christine were the co-chairs of the Provincial Working Group for Collaborative Crisis Response Models and value the experience they were able to have working with the support and expertise of a larger group from health, legal, police, Indigenous, mental health and addictions partners.
C5: Innovative treatment program addressing the needs of under served, very diverse populations. (Personality disorders and IDD/ASD)
10:30am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
Individuals with dual diagnoses of mental health and intellectual Disability and/or an autism spectrum disorder are denied access to Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) funded community rehabilitation supports. Individuals who have a reputation of difficult to manage behaviour and diagnoses on the personality disorder spectrum are also denied access to programs. Often these unsupported individuals are either on the brink of or have received criminal charges. The Justice Services and Dual Diagnosis programs at CMHA Nipissing offer a unique emotion regulation skills development program bringing together these diverse populations. This presentation will provide the audience with concrete tools and innovative ideas that have successfully been used at CMHA Nipissing to divert criminal charges.
Presenters:
Amy Betzner-Massana, RP
Stacy Talbot, RSW
Bios:
Amy Betzner-Massana is a Registered Psychotherapist employed as a clinician in the Dual Diagnosis Program at CMHA Nipissing. She has completed her degree in Disability Studies at Ryerson University and the Habilitative Mental Health certification program at Brock University.
Stacy Talbot is a Registered Social Services worker who has been working in the mental health field for the past 30 years. She is employed as a Court Diversion Case Manager at CMHA Nipissing. Stacy and Amy have been providing modified DBT sessions to diverse populations for several years.
C6: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – From an Understanding to a Framework
10:30am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an invisible brain-based disability that arises due to prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD one of the leading causes of developmental disabilities in North America. Understanding the structural changes in the FASD brain, will allow for a better understanding of the cognitive/behavioural difficulties witnessed in the child’s environment, including interactions with the justice system. The rate of FASD among the inmate population is approximately 28 times higher than in the general population. Youth with FASD are 19 times more likely to be confined than their non-affected peers. Those in human services who have a good understanding of FASD and relevant strategies, are better able to provide a supportive environment that will enable success. The learning objectives of this session include gaining an understanding of: the impact of FASD on brain domains, the characteristics of someone with FASD and a framework to use with individuals with FASD.
Presenters:
Meera Sidhu
Bios:
Meera Sidhu is the Peel FASD worker representing ErinoakKids, Centre for Treatment and Development. She has her masters degree in Neuroscience, coupled with many years of experience working with families who have been affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD.
C7: Changing The Conversation
10:30am – 12:00pm
Stream:
Addictions
Description:
This presentation will look at addiction in light of what we have learned from the ACE studies. It will examine addiction as a problematic response and coping mechanism for trauma; how neuroscience predicts the behaviours that make addiction a stigmatizing disorder; changing the conversation into one that allows the disorder to be understood and bring compassion into the exchange; and helping people come to terms with addiction in a way that encourages them to seek a solution and lessens the shame and denial.
Presenters:
Karen James
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
D Sessions - 1:00pm - 2:00pm
D1: Ottawa Mental Health Court Therapy Dog Project
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
Since September 2018, the Ottawa Courthouse has brought in accredited therapy dogs to interact with accused persons, their families, witnesses, counsel, courthouse staff, social workers, officers: everyone and anyone who wants to get the well-documented stress reducing benefits of doggy affection. The project began as a twice monthly pilot during Mental Health Court Clinic days and has been so well received that it’s expanded to include twice a week visits to Mental Health Court, and monthly visits to Drug Treatment Court and Youth Mental Health Court.
The presentation will offer strategies in dealing with building management, finding a community partner, setting up a program, evaluating success, and focus on the benefits of inclusion, as our project dogs provide support to everyone at the courthouse. Our program, which had no cost to set up, has not only brought happiness, it has support from all stakeholders in the Ottawa Courthouse.
Presenters:
Carol-Lynne Saad
Bio:
Carol-Lynne Saad was called to the bar in 1989 and worked as defence counsel. The Ottawa Courthouse Therapy Dog Project is her retirement project and was conceived while she sitting in court yet again waiting for court to begin, realizing that there were a lot of stressed out people around who could really use some time with a dog.
D2: The Implementation of an Integrated Psychological Therapy Approach
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Stream:
Forensic
Description:
Individuals with psychosis can face deficits with their social interactions. Empowering our clients to lead meaningful lives and have valued social roles is an important part of the psychosocial rehabilitation work that we as practitioners do. However we need to also equip our clients with the skills required in order to have successful social interactions. The implementation of a year long group that utilizes an Integrated Psychological Therapy approach will be discussed including successes, challenges and partnerships. Participants will be guided through simulations of some of the module content to appreciate the nature of the group process and session objectives. A question and answer period will allow for further discussion of concerns related to resource allocation, sustainability and research.
Presenters:
Michael Ivany
Bio:
Michael Ivany has worked as an occupational therapist in both Canada and New Zealand. He started working in forensic mental health in 2007 and has worked in both inpatient and community settings.
D3: A Safe Place to Land: Bridging the Gap Between Custody and Secure Housing
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
This presentation explores the efficacy and advantages of maintaining and sustaining housing for Indigenous individuals being released from custody. Together, the Canadian Mental Health Association – Sudbury/Manitoulin and the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre manage an 8 month transitional housing unit allocated to individuals living with mental health and addictions challenges, as they are released from custody. Due to the disproportionate number of Indigenous individuals in Sudbury’s correctional facility, the “Justice Unit” was initially established to offer an opportunity to individuals facing additional barriers. The unit has also supported non-indigenous individuals in times when the unit would otherwise be empty. The individuals residing in the “Justice Unit” have seen both successes and challenges. Ultimately, this presentation examines the agencies learning’s throughout the unit’s 2.5 years in operation and concludes with ideas for continued support for previously institutionalized individuals requiring intensive housing.
Presenters:
Kerri Jeanveau, CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin
Catherine Sloan, CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin
Karly Gosselin, CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin
Bios:
Kerri Jeanveau is the Justice Coordinator with CMHA-S/M. Kerri has a background in Law and Justice and a graduate certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She began her journey at CMHA-S/M as the Release From Custody Worker and transitioned into the Coordinator of the Program where she is passionate in driving change in the mental health and justice field.
Catherine Sloan, Justice Case Manager, has been with CMHA since 2018 and began at CMHA-S/M as a placement student in the Social Service Worker Program. With a background in psychology, Catherine strives to assist individuals to work around barriers and to ensure that marginalized populations receive advocacy and have access to the same resources as others.
Karly Gosselin is a Justice Case Manager and has been at CMHA since 2016, beginning in housing and eventually in the Justice Program. Karly has a background in Law and Justice and has a passion for assisting marginalized populations. Karly also works apart of the Rapid Mobilization Team, which enables Karly to work out in the community offering outreach services for those in crisis.
D4: Intersections: How Cross-Sector Partnerships Lead to Success for Youth, Families, and Police.
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
Intersections is an early intervention police referral program that connects youth who come into contact with police with appropriate supports to address issues that may contribute to their involvement with the justice system. The Intersections Coordinator plays a key role in connecting youth aged 6 through 17 with suspected mental health, developmental disabilities and/or substance use issues, who are at risk of becoming justice involved. With the support of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), implementation of Intersections began in the rural community of Bancroft in the summer of 2018. This presentation will explore the unique cross-sectoral relationships needed for Intersection’s success and the importance of program adaptability to unique local contexts.
Presenters:
Officer Philippe Regamey, OPP
Sarah Phoenix, NHCS
Laurissa Watson, CAMH
Jeff Rocca, CAMH
Bios:
Philippe Regamey is the Community Service/Mobilization officer and OPP detachment lead.
Sarah Phoenix is the Intersections Coordinator from the host agency NHCS.
Laurissa Watson, Evaluator and Jeff Rocca, Knowledge Broker provide support as part of the Provincial Systems Support Program at CAMH.
D5: Stigma and misconceptions in the Correctional Culture
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
Our mission statement at EMDC is that our clients have the right to dignity, respect,and the legality of presumption of innocence. It is a requirement of the mental health nurse to advocate for fair, safe, humane treatment that meets the clients human rights, ministry policy, and the College of Nurses standards of practice. The mental health nurse providers assist the clients when the ability to adjust to incarceration is moderately to severely impaired. Orem’s nursing model of ” the patient is encouraged to be as independent as possible” , it is facilitated by the promotion of independent problem solving/decision making and autonomy. This is articulated through client focused programming and support. The mental health nurse’s goal is provide crisis management, stabilization, maintenance, and facilitate forward movement in the clients mental health status.The correctional culture is misunderstood and stigmatized. This affects basic care needs and community supports for this population. As mental health nurses in the correctional community we advocate to ensure equal treatment for our highly vulnerable population.
Presenters:
Bridget Zimmer, RN
Vanessa Hartland, RN
Bios:
Bridget Zimmer RN has been in nursing for 29 years at EMDC. Bridget was the first Mental Health Nurse to establish the current Mental Health Program at EMDC in 2015. Bridget is currently a member of the Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Team (FACTT); a clinical resource for the Adult Therapeutic Courts; a member of the local HSJCC committee; a team member of community outreach; and a lead nurse for the major mental health units.
Vanessa Hartland RN worked in Oncology for 12 years, the Emergency Department for 5 years, and EMDC for 11 years. Vanessa is presently assigned to the female unit and works with high needs mental health individuals. Vanessa is a member of the local HSJCC, and she sits on the Parkwood Advisory Board, actively presenting to a family education group. Vanessa is a clinical resource for the Adult Therapeutic Courts.
D6: Community Based Treatment Program for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities who Engage in Sexually Abusive or Concerning Behaviours
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
The Centre for Behaviour Health Sciences (CBHS), Program for the Assessment and Treatment for Healthy Sexuality (P.A.T.H.S.) has been supporting persons with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) who engage in sexually concerning or abusive behaviours throughout York and Simcoe Regions for over 30 years. This presentation will outline our unique comprehensive assessment and treatment process. We will discuss how we apply theoretical knowledge, such as the Risk Need Responsivity principles, to help support this population. The focus of this presentation will be to provide a framework on the structure and process of our community based treatment program. This presentation will also explore clinical partnerships with community agencies, which include justice and mental health services. Collaborative approaches to providing evidence based support and risk reduction planning will also be addressed. Furthermore, our response to addressing/overcoming barriers and challenges which arise in our service will be examined.
Presenters:
Christa Salmon
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
E Sessions - 2:15pm - 3:15pm
E1: Forensic Mental Health and Justice Services in Ontario
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Stream:
Forensic
Description:
The 2019 Ontario Budget announced investments of $174 million in 2019-20 to support community mental health and addictions services, mental health and justice services, supportive housing, and acute mental health inpatient beds. This presentation will focus on new investments in Mental Health and Justice Services, as well as provide updates on Forensic Mental Health Services in the province.
Presenters:
Dianna Cochrane, Forensic Mental Health and Justice Unit, MOHLTC
Amy Herskowitz, Forensic Mental Health and Justice Unit, MOHLTC
Kaitlin Yousif Forensic Mental Health and Justice Unit, MOHLTC
Bio:
Dianna Cochrane is currently the Manager for the Forensic Mental Health and Justice Unit of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This unit is the lead for the forensic Mental Health provincial program, supporting system planning and development. Prior to this, Dianna spent over 15 years in hospitals within the forensic division, both as a clinician and an administrator.
With 18+ years in the public service, Amy Herskowitz is dedicated to the community mental health and justice service sectors. She’s managed a broad range of programs and issues within her portfolio, including Acquired Brain Injury, Assertive Community Treatment, and complex clients who require inter-ministerial collaboration to bridge service gaps.
Kaitlin Yousif is a dedicated mental health advocate with a strong passion for social justice. She has been with the public sector for over 5 years supporting different levels of government, and numerous programs and portfolios.
E2: The BDOT Pilot – Reflections from the Half-Way Point
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
Our presentation will provide a brief overview of the development and early implementation of the Brantford Downtown Outreach Team. BDOT is composed of a Nurse Practitioner, Concurrent Disorder Counsellor, Peer Support Worker, and Outreach Coordinator. This team will engage and build rapport with street involved individuals, providing support to those who may be experiencing addictions, mental health crises, homelessness, or other concerns. The Outreach Team is expected to hit the ground in late Spring 2019.
The BDOT pilot is funded for exactly one year of on-the-ground program delivery. Outreach Team members will be keeping confidential activity logs of their individual and repeat encounters, including what kinds of supports and follow-up were needed and provided. The composition and reporting requirements of the Outreach Team were made possible through collaborative community partnerships, working to produce comprehensive data sharing agreements and reporting requirements.
Presenters:
Laura Almeida, City of Brantford Strategic Planning and Community Partnerships
Brad Smith, City of Brantford Strategic Planning and Community Partnerships
BDOT Outreach Coordinator – St. Leonard’s Community Services
BDOT Concurrent Disorders Counsellor OR Peer Support Worker – St. Leonard’s Community Services
Bio:
Laura Almeida is a Community Development Coordinator with the City of Brantford. Laura provides research and evaluation support on the BDOT Planning Committee.
E3: The HSJCC Network Member Engagement Plan
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Stream:
Models/Frameworks for Better Collaboration
Description:
The HSJCC Network Member Engagement Plan was developed by the HSJCC Secretariat as a part of the Provincial HSJCC’s ongoing work to support the efforts of the Local and Regional committees. The purpose of the Member Engagement Plan is to improve the participation and communication of HSJCC Network members, as well as the flow of information between different committees.
This presentation will provide an overview of the conception, development and implementation of the HSJCC Network Member Engagement Plan over the past two years. The presentation will feature evaluation results from the work that has happened so far and discuss what is to come in the future. It will also highlight the challenges and lessons learned from the engagement work that has happened since the Member Engagement Plan was released.
Presenters:
Tasha Rennie, HSJCC Secretariat
Bios:
Tasha Rennie is the Network Engagement and Communications Officer for the HSJCC Secretariat. She provides support in the areas of communication, member engagement and knowledge exchange. Tasha has worked with the HSJCC Secretariat, housed at CMHA Ontario, since the Member Engagement Plan was launched in 2017. Tasha has a background in digital communications and international development.
E4: Bolstering Resiliency in Professionals and Clients
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Stream:
Resiliency for the Professional
Description:
Many individuals are impacted by the aftermath of traumatic and victimizing experiences, resulting from accidents, illnesses, interpersonal violence and other traumas. About 75% of these individuals will evidence resilience (Meichenbaum, 2012). Resilience is the ability to bounce back after trauma by utilizing effective coping strategies to handle ongoing adversities. Resilience is not a characteristic trait that we either have or do not have, but instead determines core competencies within ourselves that can be nurtured, developed and learned. This presentation aims to provide practical tools to help increase personal growth after experiencing trauma for staff and clients. More specifically, this presentation will cover specific ways to bolster our own resilience in six domains: physical, interpersonal, emotional, cognitive, behavioural and spiritual. Finally, this presentation will consider ways to tailor these resilience behaviours to promote quality of life.
Presenters:
Sumeet Shergill, York-Simcoe Brain Injury Services
Bios:
Sumeet Shergill graduated from University of Wales with a MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis in 2010. Sumeet earned an undergraduate Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Toronto in 2009. She is a behaviour consultant at York-Simcoe Brain Injury Services and a professor at Seneca College. Sumeet became a registered psychotherapist in May 2015.
E5: The Perils of “Protection”: Sex Workers’ Experiences of Law Enforcement in Ontario
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
Criminal law has perpetually trapped sex workers within dualities of criminality and victimization. Whereas the previous criminal offences concerning sex work framed sex workers in terms of nuisance and criminality, the passage of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act in 2014 legally enshrined sex workers as victims. However, the reality experienced by sex workers is much different. While the new law immunizes some sex workers from criminal prosecution, sex workers continue to experience ongoing human rights abuses perpetuated by law enforcement in the course of their work. In 2018, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network interviewed 22 sex workers across Ontario about their experiences of law enforcement in the context of their sex work — exploring the ways in which myriad criminal, immigration, human trafficking, municipal and other laws and law enforcement practices affect sex workers’ lives and ways to mitigate those harms.
Presenters:
Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Bios:
Sandra Ka Hon Chu is the Director of Research and Advocacy at the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, where she works on HIV-related human rights issues concerning prisons, harm reduction, sex work, women, and immigration. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of British Columbia, an LL.B. from the University of Toronto and an LL.M. from the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University. She was called to the bar of British Columbia in 2003.
E6: Building Bridges/Empowering a People in a Remote Indigenous Community Empowering a People in a Community Response Unit in a Remote Indigenous Community
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Stream:
Special Populations
Description:
Pikangikum First Nation is a remote Ojibway community in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario. Due to the high number of youth suicides, addictions, and mental health calls for service the OPP brought the Community Response Unit principles to this remote community. Building bridges with community partners and fostering relationships built on trust and respect for cultural beliefs and the safety of the community. The CRU is comprised of police (OPP/Pikangikum FN Police) and local Mental Health workers. Together this team rose above political and cultural barriers to provide compassionate service around the issues of addiction, mental health and suicide.
Presenters:
Staff Sergeant Adam Ilman
Sergeant Jennfer Neamtz
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Breakfast Sessions - 8:00am - 9:00am
BP4: Peterborough Community Support Court: An Evaluation in Recidivism
8:00am – 9:00am
Stream:
Forensic
Description:
Problem-solving courts were developed to treat the root cause of criminality. Mental health and drug courts are two of the most common types of problem-solving courts in Canada. The models adopted by MHCs and DTCs vary substantially across jurisdictions in Canada.
The Peterborough Community Support Court (CSC) is a specialized criminal court established in 2011 to address the mental health and addiction issues contributing to criminal behaviours and thus reduce recidivism rate among the populations of offenders facing these problems. It is unique in that it is one of the only concurrent disorder model courts in Canada.
An evaluation of the CSC was completed in 2018. Data for the study was provided by a Peterborough Crown attorney who developed and managed the Peterborough CSC. The Crown recorded information on treatment program characteristics, completion status, criminal history, and mental health and/or addiction history of each participant. Recidivism data was provided by the Peterborough Police.
Presenters:
Julia Bakker
Nhu Nguyen
Bio:
Julia Bakker is a Justice Service Worker in the Forensic Program of the Canadian Mental Health Association for the past three years. She holds a BA (Hons) in Criminology and Forensic Psychology.
Nhu Nguyen is currently a Master’s student in Management, specializing in Organizational Behaviour. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and will enter her doctoral studies in Organizational Behaviour in Fall 2019.
BP5: Mental Health Training for Correctional Officers: An Innovative Educational Approach
8:00am – 9:00am
Stream:
Innovation and Creative Community Response
Description:
In Ontario, overrepresentation of individuals with psychiatric diagnoses in correctional settings is well-established. Correctional officers play a central role in supporting individuals with mental illness. Nonetheless, the training that correctional officers (COs) receive in mental health is often considered to be inadequate. The presentation will provide an overview of the curriculum and evaluation results of a Correctional Officers Mental Health Training Delivered by the Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH) at the Toronto South Detention Centre (TSDC) and Vanier Centre for Women, in response to training needs. The curriculum focused on general mental health awareness; specific focus on psychotic, personality, and substance use disorders; assessment of suicide and violence risk; communicating with inmates in distress; and maintaining one’s own mental health. The day included two live simulations, which provided COs the opportunity to identify signs of mental illness, assess risk and respond strategically to manage and de-escalate each situation.
Presenters:
Tanya Connors, CAMH
Laura Hayos, CAMH
Dr. Shaheen Darani, CAMH
Dr. Kiran Patel, CAMH
Additional Authors: Faisal Islam, Anika Saiva, Dr. Sandy Simpson
Bio:
Tanya Connors, MSW, with over 20 years of experience working in mental health and addictions. Tanya is the manager of the Forensic Early Intervention Service (FEIS), a jail based mental health and triage program with CAMH. Tanya is an Adjunct Lecturer with the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.
Laura Hayos, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.), is the Manager, Continuing Professional Education at CAMH. Laura was previously the Project Coordinator and educator for the CAMH Simulation Centre, and an Occupational Therapist on the CAMH FEIS team. Laura is a Status-Only Lecturer at the University of Toronto, Department of OS&OT.
Dr. Shaneen A. Darani is a Staff Forensic Psychiatrist in the Forensic Division at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Consultant Psychiatrist at the Unified Mental Health Court at Old City Hall, Toronto; and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Kiran Patel is a Staff Psychiatrist within the Forensic Division at CAMH and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. He is the Clinical Head for the CAMH FEIS, a partnership with the MCSCS. He is the Medical Head – Criminal Justice Interface – a CAMH leadership and coordination position.
