Alternative Court Programs

Forensic Mental Health Service Coordinator

The Forensic Service Coordinator provides outreach to persons involved in the legal system, who are, or have been incarcerated and are ready to be released. Many of the people referred to the program are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Forensic mental health services aim to prevent and decrease law enforcement contact and incarceration for individuals experiencing mental health conditions. The program provides assessment of needs and obstacles, referrals to community resources, support accessing substance use disorder treatment, consultation, and direct counseling interventions.

The Forensic Service Coordinator engages with numerous community resources including Law Enforcement, Mental Health Court, Public Defender, Behavioral Health, Adult Protective Services, Hospitality House, Community Recovery Resources (CoRR), Common Goals, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), SPIRIT Peers for Independence and Recovery Center and other social service providers. Funding for this position is through the Mental Health Services Act, Prevention and Early Intervention. Contact the main line for referrals at 530-265-1437.

LPS Conservatorship

Behavioral Health and the Public Guardian's Office work together to assess and provide treatment to a select group of individuals, who are undergoing a need for long term, locked treatment following a psychiatric hospitalization. These facilities are called an Institute of Mental Disease. The person is determined to be gravely disabled, an inability to access or utilize food, clothing and shelter following a psychiatric hospitalization.

Mental Health Court

A specialty court that coordinates the delivery of services from multiple agencies for consumers charged or convicted of a qualifying offense. Representatives from participating agencies include Behavioral Health, Probation and Public Defender, as well as private attorneys, and the Turning Point ACT team. These representatives dialogue with the person and the Mental Health Court judge, and meet every other week to review and monitor treatment.

It takes approximately one year for most participants to successfully transition through the required three stages. Each stage is four months long. The first stage requires attendance at hearings every two weeks. Stage two and three require monthly hearings.