Health center & justice system collaboration to improve mental health

Health Centers (HCs), where behavioral health services have increased at a greater rate than health services overall, complete about 14 million mental health visits and 2 million substance use disorder visits a year. In 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Conference of State Court Administrators, and the Conference of Chief Justices issued a statement that recognized courts as key behavioral health referral sources and highlighted the need to integrate more behavioral health expertise and evidence into courts. 

Recognizing the potential link between HCs and the justice system, Shannon Mace and James Teufel worked with a host of key informants to write the 2022 issue brief Connecting Community Health Centers & Courts to Improve Behavioral Health of People & Communities, which explores the further integration of and partnership between health centers, certified community behavioral health clinics, and courts to improve the continuum of care.

Attendees heard from the authors and Patti Tobias (National Center for State Courts) on October 11, 2022 as they discussed their findings and the ways in which Health Centers and Justice Systems can collaborate to improve the mental health of patients and justice-involved individuals.

Watch webinar recording here.