Leading Change: Training and technical assistance

10/8/2024

Leading Change: Training and technical assistance

Training and technical assistance (TTA) can be described as the planning, development, and delivery of activities designed to achieve specific learning objectives, resolve problems, and foster the application of innovative approaches.

Training

In recognition of such, throughout 2024 the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning's (JMHP) Education Subcommittee and State Court Behavioral Health Administrator organized various TTA opportunities including the Leading Change: Illinois Innovations and the Project ECHO for the Judiciary: Improving Outcomes of the Justice Involved Emerging Adult series.

TheLeading Change: Illinois Innovations series highlights examples of jurisdictions engaging in "Illinois-based" approaches and strategies that support strategic initiatives within the Illinois Mental Health Task Force Action Plan. 2024 sessions included topics such as misdemeanor diversion programming, addressing frequent users of systems, developing and leading local multidisciplinary justice and behavioral health councils, implementing Assisted Outpatient Treatment as a pathway to care, operating in-house forensic evaluation services and cognitive behavioral therapy groups, and improving criminal justice system responses through trauma-informed practices.

For those who were unable to attend the sessions or wish to share the information presented with colleagues, recordings and resources are posted on the Illinois Supreme Court Leading Change webpage.

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has partnered with the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the National Training and Technical Assistance Center in recognition of the need for the judiciary to access expert knowledge on the topic of emerging adults involved in the criminal-legal system to inform and support judicial practices. To facilitate this effort, the Project ECHO model was chosen because of its proven efficacy to remove educational barriers by offering cohort based, virtual training facilitated by subject matter experts that address current issues through case-based learning.

Due to the Illinois Courts ongoing efforts to improve responses to individuals with behavioral health needs, the NCSC approached the JMHP to gauge potential interest among the judiciary. In response, JMHP engaged the Illinois Supreme Court's Juvenile Courts Committee, and among the two committees, 20 Judges registered to participate. "Project ECHO for the Judiciary; Improving Outcomes of the Justice Involved Emerging Adults" is underway and includes 7, 60-minute sessions being held over September - November of 2024. To elevate and share subject matter knowledge gained, JMHP will work with the Judicial College to explore the addition of an "Emerging Adult" focused course during the 2026 Judicial Education Conference.

Technical Assistance

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, State Court Behavioral Health Administrator is a resource for all Illinois Courts and provides technical assistance to support emerging or existing court and behavioral health initiatives. The State Court Behavioral Health Administrator provides various levels of technical assistance through virtual or in-person meetings with the bench, bar, coordinating councils, behavioral health providers, and other stakeholders to identify and share information, resources, and evidence-basedbest practices aligned with the Mental Health Action Plan.

To request or explore assistance, please email Scott Block at [email protected].

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