Sonoma County Behavioral Health Division: Forensic Assertive Community Treatment

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Program Information

Program description and contact updated: 02/17/17

Program approved for: 1st-Year MSW [X] 2nd-Year MSW [X]

Parent Agency Name: Sonoma County Behavioral Health Division

Parent Agency Address: BH-Annex

3322 Chanate Rd, Santa Rosa, CA  95404

Parent Agency Phone Number: (707) 565-4850

Program Name: Forensic Assertive Community Treatment

Program Address (if different from the parent agency address):

2350 Professional Dr, Santa Rosa, CA  95403

Program Phone Number: (707) 565-4963

Program E-mail Address: Amy.Howard@sonoma-county.org

Agency/Program Website Address:

http://www.sonoma-county.org/health/services/mentalhealthadults.asp

STAFF MEMBERS PROPOSED AS FIELD INSTRUCTORS

Amy Howard, LCSW, Health Program Manager, (707) 565-4940, Amy.Howard@sonoma-county.org

Contact Person/s Administratively Responsible for Field Instruction Arrangements (if different from above):

Wendy Wheelwright, MFT, Workforce Education & Training Coordinator, (707) 565-4868, Wendy.Wheelwright@sonoma-county.org

Program Description:

The Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Team provides intensive services to adult mentally ill offenders who have committed low level felonies or misdemeanors and who typically have high needs that include substance use. Referrals to FACT come directly from jail, by either the public defender or the court and are referred through Mental Health Court. FACT participants agree to probation conditions that include mental health treatment. FACT participant probation conditions are supervised by an embedded probation officer on the FACT Team and the mental health court. 

Primary Issues that the Program Addresses:

The goals of the FACT program are to help adults with serious behavioral health issues transition successfully out of the legal system and reduce recidivism in the jails.  The FACT team supports individuals to develop vocational, educational, and residential stability as they learn to manage symptoms and engage in sobriety.

Populations and Clientele Served:

Eligibility for the FACT program is as follows:

  • Individuals  with serious or severe qualifying mental health diagnoses
  • Serious to severe impairments in identified life domains such as employment, residential stability, decision making
  • Risk factors for higher level of care and/or harm to self or others
  • Eligible for Medi-Cal
  • Not deemed a public safety threat by DA or probation
  • Eligible for probation, ideally eligible for about three years
  • Maximum number of clients in program-50
  • Resident of Sonoma County

Types of Services Offered by the Program:

  • Medication evaluation, education, treatment and monitoring, daily observation if needed. Program aims to teach clients to access medications independently
  • Individual counseling, case management, referrals to community resources
  • Chemical testing to support substance abuse treatment and meet probation requirement of sobriety
  • Group program includes: Substance Abuse Recovery, Support Groups for men and women, getting off Rep Payee/budgeting, Volunteering/Employment skills, Smoking Cessation, Symptom Management/Medication Education, Transitional Age Youth group, Getting to Drive, Social/Recreation group, Criminal Offender group, Mentor group
  • Coverage 24/7 including weekend and holiday medication monitoring
  • Supported housing through Buckelew, includes work on independent living skills such as budgeting, cooking, cleaning, shopping
  • Weekly Mental Health Court evaluates and tracks client’s progress
  • Case management provides referrals and support for clients who want to pursue education, GED testing, volunteer and employment opportunities
  • Incentives for moving forward in the program and towards individual life goals including Honor Roll and outing for clients on Honor Roll

Intern Assignments and Learning Opportunities:

Interns can expect to learn the following skills:

  • Forensic Assessment
  • Individual therapy
  • Facilitating group processes and psychoeducation
  • Collaboration with Probation and other community partners
  • Substance-Recovery Approaches
  • Case-management services
  • Documentation and Charting Standards

Other Specialized Training and Educational Opportunities:

The FACT Team participates in providing law enforcement with Crisis Intervention Training.  The FACT program also supports a robust peer-support program, including a client council, groups organized and run by clients, a mentoring program, and participation in local consumer-run programs.

Student Availability:

Days preferred: Monday - Friday_____________________________________

Hours preferred: 8am – 5pm_________________________________________

Does the agency offer evening and/or weekend hours for the field placement? Yes:_X__  No: ____

Agency Profile:

Non-Profit: ____   Public/Government: __X__  Educational Institution: ____  Other (specify): ____

If a K-12 school, is PPS supervision available? Yes: ____  No: ____

INTERN CHARACTERISTICS

Please indicate the number of students in the following categories that the agency could accommodate:

BASW:____      First-Year MSW: __1__      Second-Year MSW: __1__      Second-Year Title IV-E:____

Please indicate any particular characteristics and skills that would be desirable for this placement (e.g., language capacity, knowledge of specific computer programs, etc.):

Prior Behavioral Health experience is desirable. Spanish-speaking is highly desirable.  Prior experience with forensic populations is desirable.  Dual-Recovery knowledge is valuable.  Familiarity with Medi-CAL charting requirements is helpful.  Familiarity with AVATAR is helpful.  Lived-experience is welcomed.

Number of SF State University School of Social Work students previously placed at this agency: __0___

SPECIAL PLACEMENT PROCEDURES OR REQUIREMENTS

Does the agency require:

_Yes_ Fingerprint clearance

_Yes_ Background check

_Yes_ TB clearance

_Yes_ Other health examinations

_No_ Immunizations

_No_ A vehicle for placement related duties

Does the agency cover the cost for any background checks or health procedures? Yes:_X__  No: ____

Does the agency require an early start or late completion date: Yes:____  No: _X__

INTERN BENEFITS

Does the placement offer a stipend? Yes:____  No: _X__

If yes, how much is offered and are there any particular requirements to receive the stipend?

Are there other benefits available (e.g., work study matching funds, food, transportation, subsidies for travel expenses and conferences, etc.)? If so, please specify:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health & Safety
Address 
BH-Annex 3322 Chanate Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
United States
General Phone 
Program(s) 
Social Work
Organization type 
Focus Population(s)
Focus Area(s)
Additional site tags 
1st-Year MSW, 2nd-Year MSW