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1 Communication and Collaboration Among First Responders Success in Venango County

Communication and Collaboration Among First Responders · Crime Profile • PA had the ... Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (CDFA # 16.745) To Whom It May Concern:

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1

Communication and Collaboration

Among First Responders

Success in Venango County

Venango County

2

3

Brief County Description:

• Population 55,488 and declining

• 54% live in rural settings (2 small cities)

• 675 square land miles; 80% forested

• Limited public transportation

• 7 police departments within county (3

major departments plus Pa State Police)

4

Demographics

• Venango County performs worse/much worse than

average in 15 of 19 child well-being indicators tracked by

PA

• Poverty levels higher than PA/US rates

• Per capita and Median Household income lower than

PA/US rates

• High school drop out rates higher than state rates

• BA degree achieved by 13%, versus PA’s rate of 22%

and the US rate of 24%

5

Crime Profile

• PA had the highest prison growth in NE in 2007

• In 2005 and 2006 Venango County had the 3rd highest incarceration

rate in the PA (18% increase between 2005 and 2006; 61% increase

between 2002 and 2006

• County prison daily census in 2007 averaged 148

– National Institute of Corrections recommended capacity - 128

– American Corrections Association recommended capacity - 144

• 40% of inmates known to the Mental Health system at any given

time

• 46% of overall individuals incarcerated to the county prison in 2006

and 2007 were known to the MH system. 60% jailed 2 or more

times

Venango County CJAB Membership

• Court of Common Pleas Judges

Magisterial District Judges

County Commissioners

District Attorney

Domestic Relations

Public Defender

Substance Abuse

Mental Health/Mental Retardation

Children and Youth Services

Municipal Police Departments

Pennsylvania State Police

Adult/Juvenile Court Supervision

Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole

County Jail

Sheriff’s Department

**Also members of Mental Health Procedures Committee 6

Mental Health Procedures Sub-Committee

Started meeting in 2004 to plan strategies around local hospital merger which created many issues for delegates and first responders. Subcommittee of CJAB.

- Met monthly initially but only quarterly now.

Attendees: Local police departments, ambulance staff , ER staff, behavioral health unit staff, jail staff, public defender’s office, and hospital security staff. Mix of CJAB and others.

8

2006 Grant Acquisition/ Initiation

of System Mapping

9

Background

• U.S. Department of Justice announced

funding for cross-system collaboration

• Venango County MH/MR and Adult and

Juvenile Court Supervision Services

collaborated to develop a funding request

• Notice of Funding received 9/1/06

– 1 of 27 Nation Wide

– 1 of 3 in PA

May 9, 2006

United States Department of JusticeOffice of Justice ProgramsBureau of Justice AssistanceRe: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

(CDFA # 16.745)

To Whom It May Concern:

Please let this letter serve as the endorsement of the Venango County Criminal Justice Advisory Committee(CJAC) for Venango County’s application for the above referenced funding. Our request for Category I– Planning funds, will allow stakeholders from within our criminal justice and mental health systems todevelop a comprehensive plan to identify and divert appropriate offenders suffering from a mental illnessfrom our jails to more suitable programming.

The Criminal Justice Advisory Committee is comprised of a diverse group of criminal justice and social serviceprofessionals representing the Jail, Substance Abuse, Human Services, Mental Health and MentalRetardation, Courts, Probation and Parole, Juvenile Probation, Municipal and State Police, Sheriff andothers; and should serve as a solid foundation to pursue technical assistance and financial support underthis announcement.

The CJAC supports the objectives of this program to include a reduction in recidivism of the mentally ill in thecriminal justice system; increase in the number of criminal justice personnel trained in law enforcementdiversion strategies; expansion of court based diversion programs and general increase in serviceavailable to the mentally ill offenders in our community.

I urge the Bureau of Justice Assistance to grant favorable consideration to this funding request.

Sincerely, Oliver J. Lobaugh, JudgeVenango County Court of Common PleasChairman, Venango County Criminal Justice Advisory Committee

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Purpose• Funding was awarded to develop a

comprehensive plan to identify and

intercept appropriate adult offenders

suffering from mental illness and/or co-

occurring disorders from the Venango

County justice system at the earliest point

possible while promoting public safety

12

Kick off breakfast was held Nov. 6, 2007

• Invitations to breakfast sent by letter from

county’s President Judge Oliver Lobaugh,

who did the opening welcome.

• Attendees were requested to sign up for

smaller groups based on Intercept Points

A collaborative group of

stakeholders is mobilized

13

Planning Approach

• Large planning group became a sub-committee

of the Community Justice Advisory Board

(CJAB)

• Use of Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) to carry

out system assessment process

14

The Sequential Intercept Model

• The SIM advocates developing targeted

strategies to address problems and

service gaps at each of five ―intercept‖

points that closely reflect the flow of

individuals through the criminal justice

system and the interactive nature of the

mental health and criminal justice system

15

Sequential Intercept Model

Intercept Points

1. Law enforcement/emergency services

2. Initial Detention/Initial Court Hearing

3. Jails, Courts, Forensic Evaluations, and

Hospitalization (treatment within the

correctional facility is the focus

4. Re-entry

5. Community Corrections

Planning Logic Model

Goal: Development of a strategic/collaborative plan to initiate system change for the identification and treatment

of adult offenders with a mental health or co-occurring disorder that intercepts individuals from the system at the

earliest possible point and that address the six BJA objectives.

INPUTS ACTIVITIES STRATEGIES

OUTPUTS PLANNING OUTCOMES

SEQUENTIAL

INTERCEPT

MODEL

FUNDING

STEAKHOLDER

TIME

LEADERSHIP

RECRUIT

STAKEHOLDERS

HIRE FACILITATOR

ASSESS NEEDS

AND STRENGTHS

OF SYSTEM

PRIORITIZE

SERVICES

IDENTIFY LEAD

SYSTEM

MAKE PLANNING

COMMITTEE A

SUB-COMMITTEE

OF CJAB.

OFFER STIPENDS

USE OF INTERCEPT

REVIEW TOOL

IDENTIFY

TRAINING NEEDS

IDENTIFY

STRATEGIES TO

COLLECT, REPORT

AND ANALYZE

DATA

INTERCEPT

REVIEW TOOL

COMPLETED

REVIEW

LITERATURE

QUERY STAFF/

LAW

ENFORCEMENT ON

TRAINING NEEDS

REVIEW BJA PM

DATA AND

IDENTIFY OTHER

PM DATA

DETERMINE

WHICH DATA

EXISTS AND

WHICH IS NEEDED

SUB-COMMITTEE

MEETING HELD

STAKEHOLDERS

ENGAGE IN

PLANNING

PROCESS

TRAINING NEEDS

FOR EACH

STAKEHOLDER

GROUP

IDENTIFIED

DATA

COLLECTION

STRATEGIES

IDENTIFIED

A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF

STAKEHOLDERS IS MOBILIZED

TO DEVELOP THE PLAN AND

GUIDE ITS IMPLIMENTATION

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE

SYSTEM’S STRENGTHS AND

GAPS, BASED ON THE SIM, IS

COMPLETED

IDEAL SERVICE COMPONENTS

ARE IDENTIFIED FOR EACH

INTERCEPT POINT

AN IMPLIMENTATION PLAN FOR

SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND

SUSTAINABILITY IS COMPLETED

TRAINING PROGRAM

DEVELOPED INCLUSIVE OF LAW

ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER

STAKEHOLDERS

A PERFORMANCE

MEASUREMENT AND OUTCOMES

EVALUATION SYSTEM IS

DESIGNED

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An assessment of the system’s strengths and gaps is completed

• Five subcommittees were established that corresponded to each Intercept Point (IP).

• Each committee met two times

• First meeting focused on identifying whether ideal service components were available for each intercept point.

• If a service was not available, the group decided if service development was a high, medium, or low priority.

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An assessment of the system’s strengths and gaps is completed

• Second meeting focused on the review of strengths/gaps, major themes of gaps, and identification of ideal strategies for addressing gaps.

• Following the second meeting of all small groups, the Planning Committee reviewed needs across all Intercept Points and observed that they fell into discrete categories (Case management

in the Prison and the community, Data/Information sharing, Integrated community treatment and support, identification of diversion options, training and education)

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Ideal service components and

strategies are identified for each

Intercept Point

• A second stakeholder wide meeting was held.

• Services that were brainstormed at the Intercept Point sub-committee level were prioritized using a nominal group prioritization procedure.

• Ultimately, prioritization of service development was decided to be largely unnecessary as a wide range of services were identified, some of which did not included additional funding.

20

An Implementation Plan for System

Improvements Is Developed

• Implementation strategies were identified

for all ideal service components

• Viable sustainability strategies were

developed as possible

• Implementation Plan was developed.

21Venango County Mental Health & Justice Collaboration

Mission Statement

• Venango County will successfully intercept

and divert into treatment appropriate

persons who have a mental illness who

would otherwise have been placed in the

criminal justice system

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Vision Statement

• People with mental illness are served in

the community and diverted from the

criminal justice system at the earliest

possible time, while still providing for

community safety.

23

Performance Measurement

Outcomes Evaluation System for

Implementation Plan

• Logic Model is developed

• Identification of existing data completed

• Additional data that is desired is identified

• Data collection barriers– Uncertainty about the types of information that can be

shared among the stakeholder groups, and at what

point

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Logic Model

Outcomes/Objectives

Intercept Point 1: Law

Enforcement/Emergency Services

Procedures to provide assistance to law enforcement are

reviewed and refined

Peer support provided a.s.a.p. following 1st contact with law

enforcement

Family peer support program is developed

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Intercept Point 2: Initial Detention/Hearing

Standardized screening and assessment tools are

administered to identify suicide risk and presence of mental

illness or co-occurring disorders

Case management (i.e. boundary spanner staff) is

operational to assist courts with alternative dispositions,

ensure screening/assessments are completed and link

individual to needed services

Procedures are developed for quick access to mental

health services.

Logic Model

Outcomes/Objectives con’t

26

Intercept Point 2: Initial Detention/Hearing con’t

Diversion Options Developed to Include:

• ―Collaborative Intervention Strategies‖ developed to

partner existing interventions to create jail diversion

alternatives. For example, house arrest/PHP.

• Mobile Psych assessment and treatment expanded from

4 hours/mo to 4 hours/wk and expand to target

population.

• Supervised residential housing developed as an

alternative to incarceration.

Logic Model

Outcomes/Objectives con’t

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Intercept Point 3: Post booking/Jail

Case Management is operational in the jail to

include initial assessment, in-jail service linkage,

pre-release planning, and data collection.

Additional 8 hours per week of Mental Health

counseling is added in the jail.

Logic Model

Outcomes/Objectives con’t

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Intercept Point 4: Re-Entry to Community

Case management is operational (see Intercept Point 2)

Individualized probation and parole pre-release plan is

developed that establishes realistic conditions for treatment

and graduated sanctions if relapse occurs.

Logic Model

Outcomes/Objectives con’t

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Intercept Point 5: Community Support

Community Support Options are expanded to include:

• Supported housing for target population

• Psycho-educational programs for target population.

• Individualized planning to identify work, volunteer, or

training activities, and or participation in other

meaningful community activities

• Transportation plan developed for each individual.

• Integrated Mental Health/Substance abuse case

management for individuals with co-occurring

disorders.

Logic Model

Outcomes/Objectives, con’t

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System Wide Outcomes:

• All stakeholders receive training regarding mental illness, suicide

assessment, diversion options, and other desired topics.

• Data sharing procedures developed across all intercept points to

ensure continuity of information sharing

• Data collection strategies are developed to ensure that data is

collected in a consistent and timely manner and consistent with

funding expectations.

• Quality measurement system developed to measure overall

effectiveness of system components in diverting individuals at the

earliest point possible.

Logic Model

Outcomes/Objectives, con’t

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Year One Conclusions: The Barriers

• Some services that were identified as needed and of

high priority are expensive and have questionable

sustainability (half way house)

• The ability to share information among first responders -

- It was not clearly known what could be shared among

ourselves, and at what point

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Background

• Year one was completed under-budget

• The project requested, and received approval to extend the grant into a limited implementation phase

• Focus in Year 2 was on achieving the no cost and low-cost Implementation Objectives and Outcomes

34

Year 2 kick off breakfast was held 9/07 to review

accomplishments of planning grant and discuss

limited implementation plan

Two Trainings Were Presented:

1. Presentation from the Laurel Highlands Crisis Intervention

Training Team

2. Training from John Petrila, JD LLM, a professor at the

University of South Florida with expertise on HIPAA and

Cross System Collaboration

Topics were chosen with an eye towards developing an

information sharing policy.

Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)

Innovative program of police-based crisis intervention involving community health care and advocacy partnerships

Pre-jail diversion program that directs individuals with mental illness into treatment rather than the criminal justice system

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Emphasis is on mental health knowledge, crisis resolution skills, and access to community services.

Officer learns how to: - arrive on scene non-confrontational - approach individual in crisis - assess situation - promote one on one communication - provide assurance that he’s there to help

36

Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)

“HIPAA, State Law, and Cross-System Collaboration presented by John Petrila.

HIPAA Permitted Non-Consented Disclosures for Law Enforcement

“If use or disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the health or safety of an individual or public.”

PA Law on Non-Consensual Disclosure

Non-consented disclosure is permitted in response to emergency medical situations when release is necessary to prevent serious risk of bodily harm or death…must be pertinent to relief of emergency (PA Admin Code 5100.31)

--This could be harm to self or others in the case of an individual known to act out physically. Real risk of injuring others or of being injured by first responders due to behavior.

Information Sharing Policy Is Developed as a Result of This Training

Intent of Disclosure: “Promote best possible outcome for the individual”.

“Mental Health worker may disclose Protected Health Information…….if necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health and safety or a person or the public and if the disclosure is to a person or persons reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat.”

Disclosure must be made “in good faith”.

Exchange of Information between First Responders and the Venango County Mental

Health System Policy and Procedures Timeline

1/23/08 Draft policy is developed by Venango County Mental Health and Developmental Services Administrator Jayne Romero. Draft policy is forwarded to John Petrilia for comments/ suggestions.

2/13/08 John Petrila responds and gives basic approval. He references statute on previous slides and notes that policy should only be used in emergency situations. His final caution is that substance use regulations are more stringent so this policy will not work for that.

40

2/08 County HIPAA policy updated to parallel this policy.

2/29/08 Policy submitted to Mental Health and Developmental Services solicitor. His comments “….regulation does permit

disclosure of Protected Health Information without authorization of individual, however, an analysis has to be done in each instance to determine what subsection is applicable, keeping in mind that any such disclosure must always be made in good faith and consistent with applicable law and standards of ethical conduct.”

Policy and Procedures Timeline, con’t

7/08 Policies and Procedures are presented and approved at mental health procedures subcommittee.

10/6/08 Approved by the county’s solicitor. His only comments referred to typos.

11/17/08 All policies developed by mental health procedures sub-committee presented at CJAB.

1/20/08 2nd review of policies at CJAB

2/17/09 Policies officially adopted by CJAB

***Over 1 year to get this done including all approvals. (3 lawyers, 2 committees)

Policies and Procedures Timeline, con’t

Exchange of Information between 1st Responders and the Venango County Mental Health System

Policy and Procedures

Policy: In response to law enforcement official’s request, Venango County Human Services through its Crisis Unit and/or Mental Health/Mental Retardation Dept, may disclose protected health information (PHI) in an emergency situation without the written authorization of an individual in situations involving first contact with law enforcement or other 1st responders. The intent of the disclosure is to promote the best possible outcome for an individual who is “known” to the county mental health system. Refer to the following sources for legal authority relative to this policy: 55 Pa. Code 5100; 45 C.F.R. and Venango County HIPAA Compliance Policies/Procedures. 43

Exchange of Information between 1st Responders and the Venango County Mental Health System

Policy and Procedures

Policy(cont):

The crisis or MH/MR worker may disclose PHI to law enforcement or other 1st responders if it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public and if the disclosure is to a person or persons reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat. If the worker believes in good faith that those 2 requirements are satisfied, s/he may disclose PHI and there is no limitation on the type of PHI which may be disclosed other than the worker must in good faith believe that the disclosure of PHI is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the health or safety of a person of the public. 44

Exchange of Information between 1st Responders and the Venango County Mental Health System

Policy and Procedures

Procedures:

1. Law Enforcement/1st Responders will contact the CS/MH as outlined in the “Individuals Needing Emergency Psychiatric Evaluation” flowchart.

2. Requests for the information outlined above may be made to the CS/MH worker who takes the call.

3. The CS/MH worker will provide only the information noted above, to the degree that it is known to the CS/MH worker, or can be quickly discovered by the CS/MH worker. Strategies that the workers can use to discover the information includes but are not limited to, calls to the County Base Service Unit staff, and/or references to mental health records on file at the CS office.

4. The CS/MH worker will document any information disclosed to a 1st

responder on the Protective Services Emergency Examination sheet or in the case record.

Other Policies Developed Thru the Mental Health Procedures Sub-committee

Safe Transition to Emergency Department (for 302s and other mental health admissions)

Ambulance Transport for Individuals Needing Emergency Psychiatric Evaluation Flowchart

Uniform Firearms Act Notification policy

Exchange of information between UPMC-NW (hospital) and law enforcement

Other Policies, con’t

Individuals not appropriate for jail or hospitalization

List of transportation options

Flowchart and policy regarding those who make a serious suicide attempt and need medical stabilization

Flowchart on managing intoxicated patients.

Other Policies, con’t

Some are joint policies and some are individual agency policies that are brought to the sub-committee for review to ensure that all agencies are apprised of policies.

Once approved by Mental Health Procedures sub-committee, all policies are formally adopted by CJAB.

49

Year 2 Outcomes

• Standardized screening and assessment

tools are administered to identify suicide

risk/presence of mental illness

• Procedures are developed for quick

access to mental health services

50

Year 2 Outcomes, con’t.

• Collaborative Intervention Strategies are developed to partner existing interventions (e.g. house arrest and partial Hospitalization) to create jail diversion

• All stakeholders will receive training regarding mental illness, suicide assessment, diversion options, public safety, correctional procedures, and other desired topics.

• Data sharing procedures are developed across all intercept points to ensure continuity of information sharing

51

Standardized Screening and

Assessment Tools

• A sub-committee is formed

• The major focus was to review assessment tools used by jail staff at booking and other times within the jail

• The Warden agreed to use standardized

instruments at booking

– Correctional Mental Health Screen for Men

– Correctional Mental Health Screen for Women

52

Procedures for Quick Access to

Mental Health Services

• Procedures are developed for same/next

day access to Mental Health services with

Community Mental Health Center.

• Pilot Program developed and implemented

with Franklin Police Department to divert

at Intercept Point 1.

53

Collaborative Intervention Strategies

• Collaborative strategies are developed between mental health and AJCSS

• Creation of 3 emergency shelter beds

• New practice initiated to discuss release plans/options for inmates who could be released on house arrest if housing/services are available

• Psycho-educational program expanded in collaboration with State Probation/Parole

• Preliminary discussions to develop community wide conferences to develop strategies for working with individuals known to all systems who are at risk of incarceration

54

All Stakeholders Receive Training

• A Detailed Training Plan is developed for

reciprocal training

The mental health system provided

training to criminal justice system while the

criminal justice system provided training

to the mental health system.

55

Overall Service Changes

Intercept Point 1Pre-Program:• Police Receive mental health

training as part of ACT 120 training

• Crisis Services Unit available for non-commitments

Current:• Crisis Services continues to be

available, but now staff are better trained.

• Extensive training completed

• Exchange of Information Policies and Procedures are developed

• Comprehensive policies developed to provide assistance to law enforcement

• Diversion Plan in effect with Franklin Police Department

• 3 Emergency beds created

• Procedures for same/next day access to mental health treatment is developed

56

Overall Service Changes

Intercept Point 2

Pre-Program:

• Access to abbreviated

forensic evaluations

• Some creativity in handling

criminal charges

Current:

• Standardized

screening/assessment

tools

• Same/next day access to

mental health services

• Collaborative Diversion

options

• Emergency beds

• Better understanding of

how to access forensic

evaluations at WSH

57

Overall Service Changes

Intercept Point 3

Pre-Program:• 4 hours psychiatric time in jail

per week

• 8 hours mental health counseling in jail per week

• 4 hours Substance Abuse counseling in jail per week

• Jail advocate provides screening and links to in-jail services

• Expedited hearings for individuals with mental illness

• Access to local, abbreviated forensic evaluations

Current:**Boundary Spanner in place.

• Educated jail and mental health staff

• Data sharing between jail and mental health staff

• Standardized suicide risk screening tool

• Mental Health Intake in the Jail setting

• Knowledge of how to access forensic evaluations at WSH

• Service planning for identified individuals

58

Overall Service Changes

Intercept Point 4Pre-Program:• Mental health

participation on Pre-Release Advisory Board

• Intensive case management for select individuals who had case management prior to incarceration

• A few days supply of medication

Current:**Boundary spanner in

place

• Services available at Pre-Program level

• Mental Health Intake for individuals receiving services in the jail

• Immediate access to psychiatric evaluation and continuation of medication supply

59

Overall Service Changes

Intercept Point 5Pre-Program:• Emphasis on Recovery

• Longer criminal justice supervision for individual with a mental illness. Some graduated sanctions for relapse

• Access to publicly funded mental health services upon release

Current:• Continued emphasis on

recovery, and access to expanded recovery services (MPR, Peer support, emergency housing, housing support, illness mgt group)

• Expanded treatment services and choice due to HealthChoices

• Trained community service providers

• Psycho-education program expansion

• Forensic housing program launched

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Two Other Program Were Developed as a Result of

Colloboration around the Grant

1. Diversion Pilot with the Franklin Police

Department

2. Supported Housing Program—Applied for

a PCCD grant based on info gathered

during initial grant period.

Diversion Protocol with Franklin Police Department

Protocol developed to guide the Franklin Police Officer, Crisis Services Worker, Court Supervision Officer and the Magisterial District Judge

- Police Officer Identification of mental health issues

-Involvement of MH system (Crisis Services)

-Involvement of Court Supervision

-Recommendation to Magisterial District Judge

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Supported Housing Program

In April 2010 Venango County was approved for a PCCD grant to start a supported housing program for individuals being released from the county jail.

64

Supported Housing Program, con’t

Basic Overview:

Master Lease Program for those being released from the county jail who are homeless.

Individuals live in apartments rented by Venango County for 1st 6 months following release.

Dedicated Caseworker works closely with the individual to gain access to benefits and/or employment 65

Supported Housing Program, con’t

Caseworker also helps individual make and keep follow up appointments after released from jail.

Once the individual has income, the caseworker helps the individual locate supported permanent housing.

5 slots were created for transitional housing.

First individual was placed in 7/10. All 5 slots filled. Two individuals are currently looking for permanent housing and no re-incarcerations (yet)

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Contact Information

Kim Woods

BSU Director

Venango County MH/MR

814-432-9124

[email protected]

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