Clark County Mental Health Court Participation Overview

Clark County’s Mental Health Court (MHC) program provides an excellent alternative for persons facing both misdemeanor and felony charges. For individuals who are willing to collaborate with a committed team striving for success, this program offers an outstanding chance. We examined the eligibility for some applicants in our earlier blog post, “Criteria and Considerations for Mental Health Court in Clark County.” This blog will go into additional detail about what it means to participate in Mental Health Court and how we can support you during that process.

What does the MHC Program Look like?

Clark County’s Mental Health Court (MHC) Program takes a four-phase organized approach, with each step aimed to help individuals grow and ultimately enable community reintegration. Here’s a brief overview of the program:

Phase 1: Orientation/Engagement (Minimum 2 months)

  1. Weekly court reviews
  2. Weekly probation officer meetings
  3. Attend treatment groups and individual sessions
  4. Develop coping skills and identify strengths
  5. Work towards stable housing and transportation
  6. Medication adherence

Advancement Criteria for Phase 2: Complete all Phase 1 requirements, a minimum of two months in Phase 1 since opting in, and other specific criteria.

Phase 2: Intensive Treatment (Minimum 2 months)

  1. Weekly court reviews
  2. Bi-monthly probation officer meetings
  3. Complete “Seven Dimensions of Wellness” Worksheet
  4. Budgeting and financial responsibility
  5. Attend treatment groups, learn about mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnosis
  6. Engage in community support groups and activities
  7. Develop support networks

Advancement Criteria for Phase 3: Complete all Phase 2 requirements and meet specific criteria.

Phase 3: Community Engagement (Minimum 4 months)

  1. Bi-monthly court reviews
  2. Bi-monthly probation officer meetings
  3. Continued budgeting and financial responsibility
  4. Ongoing treatment engagement
  5. Building a Continued Care plan
  6. Emphasis on community involvement and support networks

Advancement Criteria for Phase 4: Complete all Phase 3 requirements and meet specific criteria.

Phase 4: Maintenance (Minimum 4 months)

  1. Monthly court reviews
  2. Monthly probation officer meetings
  3. Continued budgeting and financial responsibility
  4. Ongoing treatment engagement
  5. Continued development of Continued Care plan
  6. Focus on long-term stability and healthy activities

Advancement Criteria for Commencement: Complete all Phase 4 requirements, a minimum of four months in Phase 4, and meet specific criteria.

This planned method guarantees that participants proceed through the program, addressing their specific needs at each stage. The purpose is to help persons achieve independence and successful community reintegration.

Please note this a generalized plan as provided by the Clark County Mental Health Court. Individuals are subject to modifications depending on their case and the terms of their agreement. If you have further questions on this program, feel free to reach out to the Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer to give you further guidance. A comprehensive breakdown of Mental Health Court Participation can be found on the Clark County Court’s webpage: https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2022-06/MHC%20Participant%20Handbook.pdf

At the Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer, we take great satisfaction in supporting our clients’ wellness in addition to their legal needs! Every client is important to us, and we strive to provide beneficial options to enhance their wellbeing. We are pleased to help you at every stage if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this program or is qualified to apply for Mental Health Court. For a free consultation regarding any criminal matter you may be facing, call (360) 334-6277.