Services are provided to adults residing in Fresno County and are currently on AB 109 Post Release Community Supervision or Pretrial and AB 1810 Mental Health Diversion; Pre-Trial Probation.

AB 109 referral process:

FIRST STREET CENTER has an assessment specialist that is co-located at both the AB 109 probation and pretrial supervision offices. The assessment specialists provide screening for both Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Issues. Persons who meet criteria for a further SUD assessment will be referred to the FIRST STREET CENTER OP clinic and those who appear to meet criteria for mild to moderate mental health issues will be referred to the FIRST STREET CENTER OP for further assessment and treatment. Those who appear to meet criteria for severe mental health issues will be referred to our FSP program, co-located on our campus. Those with Co-Occurring Disorders are enrolled in either FIRST STREET CENTER OP or FSP and may receive both SUD and Mental Health treatment on the same campus. Persons who meet criteria for a higher level of SUD treatment are referred and placed in detox and/or residential treatment. Upon completion they will return for continued outpatient or recovery services.

If the intake specialist determines that the person meets criteria for FSP, a treatment plan is developed with the person served and the Clinician, which acts as a blueprint of mental health services with FSP. Family members and/or significant others are encouraged to participate and support referred individuals as it is our experience, as well as an evidence based practice, that treatment success is increased with healthy family support. Staff assists the person served with application to Medi-Cal if appropriate. The treatment plan addresses the issues of behavioral goals to be met, interventions that will be utilized during treatment, and treatment recovery plans that may entail support with SUD, impulsive and maladaptive behaviors, as well as legal issues. Additional support from the Team consists of linkages to education and employment resources, compliance with supervision requirements, social supports, and various life skills.

AB 1810 referral process:

Referrals come through Mental Health Diversion Court. Representatives from TP are present in court to guide the treatment pathway. Once an individual is found Eligible and provisionally suitable, through MHDC and their charges are suspended the candidate is given an intake assessment date. Once an assessment and treatment plan are completed treatment officially begins either at the FSP or ACT level of care with all aspects of specialty mental health services explained in the AB 109 referral process. Individuals who are accepted into MHDC have an obligation with the court to complete up to 2 years of MH treatment and if successful, their Felony and or Misdemeanor charges will be cleared from their record. With our FBH-COC these individuals will also have the option to stay with the FSP program after their 2 year MHDC obligation if still needing FSP or ACT support

SB 317 referral process:

Referrals come through the Mental Health Incompetent to Stand Trial (MHIST) collaborative court system. These individuals have Misdemeanor offenses and have been deemed IST by a Qualified Mental Health Expert (QMHE). Once an individual is deemed appropriate for release and to engage in an Outpatient treatment facility a referral from DBH to the FSP team will come through. Coordination for jail releases is ideal and engagement with FIRST STREET CENTER-FSP occurs immediately after release to discuss consent, ROI’s, program orientation and scheduling assessment and treatment planning. During the assessment and treatment plan, level of care will be determined, assistance with appropriate housing referrals in the community, and additional specialty mental health services detailed in the previous sections.

Discharge

Upon completion of AB 109 Probation and or AB 1810 pre-trial probation, those who continue to require FSP or ACT level of care services will have the option of continuing services under the Forensics Behavioral Health continuum of care (FBH-COC) until the individual has achieved their treatment baseline. Referrals to TP Outpatient will also be an option for individuals who meet the Outpatient level of care upon completion of their Supervision and who still require needed support.