SUN photos/Marshall DunhamBy Davilyn Valdez
Special to The SUN
This week, Archuleta County agencies participated in a one-and-a-half day workshop for the development of integrated strategies to effectively identify and respond to the needs of justice-involved adults with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.
Workshop facilitators included Judge Martin Gonzales from Alamosa, Cindy Schultz with San Juan Basin Health Department, Archuleta County Sheriff Richard Valdez and Davilyn Valdez.
Sequential Intercept Mapping and Taking Action for Change, developed by Policy Research Associates in Delmar, N.Y., are two workshops designed to help communities identify existing community resources, service gaps and opportunities for improved service coordination and communication between mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice professionals.
According to Henry J. Steadman of Policy Research Associates, “This workshop is a strategic-planning session intended to foster systemic change and provide each participating community with the tools necessary to move forward to enhance services for adults with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders in contact with the justice system.”
Key agency administrators, staff and consumer advocates from the mental health, substance abuse, veterans services, employment, transportation, housing and criminal justice system in Archuleta County participated in Sequential Intercept Mapping and Taking Action for Change which focus strategic planning efforts on cross-systems collaboration and the reduction of system and service barriers with an integrated, local action plan.
The full version of this story is available in the print edition and e-edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Subscribe today by calling (970)264-2100 or click here.
