Final Minutes of April 20, 2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES - Draft ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH April 20, 2022 Motion was made by Tony Whitaker to approve the minutes of March 2022, seconded by Dr. Alison Stuebe and carried without dissent. Jessica Frega abstained from the vote as she wasn't present at the March 231 meeting. V. Educational Sessions A. Criminal Justice Resource Department (CJRD) Update Caitlin Fenhagen is the director of the Criminal Justice Resource Department, a department that oversees and supports jail alternatives programming in Orange County. CJRD's mission is to seek to reduce the number of individuals with behavioral health issues in the criminal justice system, to provide supportive services and to reduce the risk of recidivism. Ms. Fenhagen gave a great presentation updating the Board on the CJRD's activities and programs. Below are some highlights. • The BOCC created the CJRD with specific intentions including the reduction of unnecessary pre-trial incarcerations. It is not uncommon for the local jails to house prisoners with behavioral health issues arrested with low-level type of offenses, as there is nowhere else to serve them in the community. This isn't just a local issue; it's a national problem. • The CJRD has approximately about 16 staff. Most work in the courthouse. Two of the re-entry council staff are housed in Whitted. • Re-imaging the criminal legal/justice system by deflection (keeping them out of the system) and diversion (keeping them away from the system once they have entered). This also includes youth deflection associated with the juvenile justice system. • The newest CJRD program is the Lantern Project. o Its goal is to provide increased access to care and support to people with a history of substance use, specifically opioid use, who are involved in the criminal legal system in OC. Harm reduction measures, behavioral health services and education about COVID-19 are provided. o Upon completing the Lantern Project Diversion plan, which is for anyone who may have a behavioral health issue and are at risk of being arrested or have an open criminal court matter, the arrest or criminal court case has the possibility of being dismissed and/or closed. o The Lantern Project Re-entry involves completing intake assessments for those who are currently detained at the OCDC, or who have been released from prison within the last month. They will receive an individualized transition plan, are connected to services, and support immediately upon their release. Other CJRD programs include the: • Pretrial Release Program, Misdemeanor Pre-Arrest Diversion Program, Pre-Arrest Diversion Program, Local Re-entry Council and the Restoration Legal Counsel. • Crisis Diversion Facility's mission is to facilitate diversion of individual experiencing a behavioral health crisis (mental health and substance use disorder) from either a hospital-based ED or the criminal justice system. o Services provided include clinical services, criminal justice services, community treatment networking and social services networking. • Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection (SOHRAD) Program is comprised of 4 staff who: S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda &Abstracts\2022 Agenda &Abstracts/ April Page 2