Prison Outreach Program

NAMI Greenville-South CarolinaValerie Hesse

Grew out of a Need

• Program grew from the personal experience of NAMI Greenville board member Phil Kearns.

• Valerie Hesse, Program Director, experienced the same with family member

• Untreated mental illness is a potentially deadly tragedy in our community

• 35% of prison population suffer from mental illness

Description of the Program

• Free-of-charge program educates inmates, their families, and the court system on:

• (1) the signs and symptoms of mental illness

• (2) available services within the community

• (3) advocacy for proper evaluation, medication, and other treatments

• (4) provide ongoing support for the inmates to reduce recidivism linked to mental illness

Our Mission

• The POP mission is to improve the quality of life and treatment for those inmates who suffer from mental illness and their families through education support and advocacy.

Program Goal

Goal:

We want to reduce/stop the cycle of lawlessness that often occurs with untreated mental illness and dual diagnosis.

Working with the Inmates

• Getting Referrals• Building a Rapport• The Interview Process• Including the Family in the Process• Contacting the Attorney• The All Important Consent Form• Document!

Build Relationships

• Humility, Kindness, and Persistence will win you acceptance into the “Chang Secret Society”

• Building Relationships Earns Credibility within the Secret Society.

Program Collaborators

• NAMI National• Local Detention Center• Public Defender's Office• Solicitor's Office• Mental Health Centers• Office of Probation and Parole• Sheriff's Office• NAMI Volunteers• Triune Mercy Center (Churches)