Report Released on Statewide Efforts to Improve Law Enforcement Responses

January 8, 2013 Martha Plotkin: 202.577.9344, mplotkin@csg.org Robert Coombs: 916.743.6069, rcoombs@csg.org Report Released on Statewide Efforts to Improve Law Enforcement Responses  to People with Mental Illnesses New York—The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center released a new report today that highlights statewide initiatives for supporting local-level specialized policing responses (SPRs) for people with mental illnesses. SPRs are designed to help individuals in crisis connect to community-based treatment and supports, when appropriate, instead of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. Statewide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Efforts: Strategies to Support and Sustain Local Initiatives is the result of a project supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice. It examines how individual states have developed structures and standards to make police encounters with people with mental illnesses safer for all involved and to produce better mental health and criminal justice system outcomes. “This report is a much-needed resource for anyone interested in seeing consistently high-quality law enforcement/mental health programs created, enhanced, and sustained across entire states,” said Denise O’Donnell, Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance. “It complements the strong technical assistance and many published tools that BJA’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program has produced to date.” Statewide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Efforts focuses on Connecticut, Ohio, and Utah, which represent three differently structured initiatives with extensive experience with SPRs. It also includes program examples from other states with established initiatives, such as Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Maine. “This report reflects the reality that to significantly increase the number and quality of SPR programs in the nation some states may need to shift from a one-jurisdiction-at-a-time approach to a more structured and coordinated statewide effort,” said Mike Lawlor, Connecticut Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning and Justice Center board member. “The report recognizes that states are able to successfully incubate and support collaborative mental health/law enforcement responses that align with evidence-based practices and can be tailored to distinct jurisdictional needs.” The report is intended to offer a starting point for policymakers, practitioners, and others interested in planning or enhancing a statewide initiative. Among the issues addressed in the report are leadership (the strengths and weaknesses of advocacy-, law enforcement- or mental health-led efforts); staffing (the use of full-time, part-time, and in-kind personnel resources); partnerships (family, consumer, university and cross-disciplinary linkages); agency recruitment (regionalized or centralized network models created to unite active SPR jurisdictions and to encourage the creation of new programs); fidelity to the core elements of evidence-based mental health/law enforcement responses (oversight that results in effective collaborations, consistent training on essential topics across jurisdictions, and clearly articulated policies for crisis intervention or co-response teams); and sustainability (expertise-sharing, staff turnover planning, government official engagement, and evaluations). Statewide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Efforts: Strategies to Support and Sustain Local Initiatives is available as a free download at www.csgjusticecenter.org/law-enforcement/projects/statewide-le-mh. It is one in a series of BJA-supported reports that addresses law enforcement and mental health issues, including Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement-Based Program, Strategies for Effective Law Enforcement Training and Tailoring Law Enforcement Initiatives to Individual Jurisdictions. Additional resources can be found at http://www.consensusproject.org/issue_areas/law-enforcement. The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. The Justice Center provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies, informed by available evidence, to increase public safety and strengthen communities (see www.justicecenter.csg.org).

White House Petition Submitted for Exemption of Military Retirement Pay.

Exempt all military retirement pay from Federal and State income taxation.

Petition for the Federal Government to exempt all military retirements from federal and state income taxation. The Federal Government can set the example to support no income taxation on military retirements. Some States already exempt all or a portion of retired pay from income taxation. States Without income taxation Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not have a personal income tax. Two others, New Hampshire and Tennessee, tax only dividend and interest income.

Created: Dec 27, 2012

Issues: Budget and Taxes, Family, Veterans and Military Families

Training Opportunity\Workshop: Understanding Sensory and Motor Differences in Adults with Autism

DDA/MCDD SUPPORTING ADULTS WITH AUTISM TRAINING SERIES presents a FREE workshop:  Understanding Sensory and Motor Differences in Adults with Autism

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at each location ******************************** COLUMBIA Monday February 11, 2013  9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way Columbia, MD 21045 ********************************  CAMBRIDGE Tuesday February 12, 2013 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Holiday Inn Express 2715 Ocean Gateway Cambridge, MD 21613    ********************************* HAGERSTOWN Wednesday February 13, 2013 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Ramada Plaza Hotel 1718 Underpass Way Hagerstown MD, 21740  ********************************* BOWIE Thursday February 14, 2013 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Bowie Comfort Inn Conference Center 4500 Crain Highway Bowie, MD 20716 ********************************* Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided at all locations. ********************************* Inclement Weather Notice: In the event of inclement weather that affects travel, the following policy will be followed: If schools are closed in the county where the event is to be held, the event will be canceled.

People with autism often have extreme sensory sensitivities that can be painful and anxiety producing. People with autism may also have a range of motor inefficiencies or movement patterns that may interfere with accomplishing routine daily activities and communicating through gesture or speech. Understanding the sensory and motor differences underlying what are commonly referred to as "behaviors" can lead to effective approaches and insight for self regulation and performance. During this workshop, participants will learn to: 1) Describe sensory sensitivities and sensory discomfort and their impact on social behavior. 2) Develop strategies to improve sensory comfort for adults with autism. 3) Recognize and articulate obstacles to physical performance of some people with autism that are frequently regarded as behavioral. 4) Create environmental adaptations and interactions to support intended responses of adults with autism. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Moya Kinnealey, Ph.D., OTR/L is an occupational therapist, researcher and expert on sensory and motor issues of people of all ages. Moya has presented nationally and internationally on this topic and has published articles on its impact on quality of life. Her clinical work has been with children, youth and adults with disabilities. Moya illuminates the sensory and motor differences of adults with autistic spectrum disorder in order to minimize potential obstacles to achieving their goals. Her perspective was developed through extensive interviews with youth and adults with autism in order to more deeply understand and apply her knowledge to the autistic experience. Nick Pentzell, Autism Self Advocate is an honor student at Delaware Community College.  Nick is a "diffability" advocate who has presented at conferences for organizations such as YAP Inc., the Society of Disability Studies and the Autism National Committee (AutCom). His work has been published in several books and journals about autism and facilitated communication.  Two of these journals can be accessed at www.autcom.org/pdf/AutcomNLSpring2010.pdf and www.dsq-sds.org/article/view/1054/1241. Nick's award winning documentary "Outside/Inside" has been shown at disability film festivals worldwide. Nick is an expert teacher of the autism experience.  REGISTRATION INFORMATION!! Columbia: Monday, February 11, 2013 Click HERE to Register for COLUMBIA  Cambridge: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Click HERE to Register for CAMBRIDGE Hagerstown: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 Click HERE to Register for HAGERSTOWN Bowie: Thursday, February 14, 2013 Click HERE to Register for BOWIE  If you should need any special accommodations please contact Aisha Mason at mcdd@kennedykrieger.org. Hope to see you there!  Sincerely, Aisha Mason Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities mcdd@kennedykrieger.org 443-923-9555