San Luis Valley Mental Health Center

In an attempt to address the recidivism rate in this area, San Luis Valley Mental Health Center has implemented a Criminal Justice Clinical Specialist (CJCS) as a part of their team. The CJCS serves as a primary contact person for coordination of non-emergent services with referring criminal justice agencies.  The CJCS acts as an additional resource in working with the mentally ill offender who is involved with law enforcement, Probation, Parole, the Public Defender’s Office, the District Attorney’s office and/or Community Corrections. The purpose is to ease provision of services and contact between these agencies and SLVMHC by assisting in continuity of care for the offender with the hope of reducing recidivism.

Utilizing an integrated treatment model, the CJCS works directly with the offender and addresses a variety of needs which include providing or arranging for clinical assessment, providing brief interventions and case management services, as well as arranging wrap around services to those returning to the community. Because SLVMHC provides a plethora of in-house programs which the CJCS can directly link the offender with, we are able to offer a continuum of services as needs are identified. Such services include Shelter + Care housing, PATH Homeless Outreach, and access to Assertive Community Treatment and Intensive Case Management teams. Through these programs specifically we are able to offer supportive measures such as medication management, life skills and benefits acquisition. Other programs which can be directly accessed by the offender population include emergency housing and transportation assistance. Further therapeutic programming available includes Alternatives to Violence, Women’s Empowerment, and Parenting programs. Furthermore we have an Emergency Services team, who are on call 24 hours a day to aid in emergent situations.

Aside from the therapeutic aspect, a secondary service provided by the CJCS is training for all interested law enforcement. This training pertains to the management of behavioral problems within the offender population. This is provided directly to jail staff as requested.

For the duration of the grant, ending in December 2011, it is our goal to assist in the reduction of recidivism in the San Luis Valley by offering quality outreach services. Our hope is that by providing timely interventions, appropriate follow through and sound client tracking we will positively impact the recidivism rate for the mentally ill population.

Program referrals and inquiries can be made directly to Denise Jiron, CJCS at the contact information listed below.

San Luis Valley Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center

Judy Mcneilsmith, MA, LPC
Program Director
8745 County Rd. 9 South
Alamosa, CO 81101
Ph: (719) 587-5611
Fax: (719) 589-9136

or 

Denise Jiron, MA, CAC III
Criminal Justice Specialist
8745 County Rd. 9 South
Alamosa, Co 81101
Ph: (719) 587-6998
Fax: (719) 589-9136