NORTH VERNON, Ind. – Jennings and Jackson County stakeholders from local government, the criminal justice system, and mental health/social services met in April for a Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping workshop. The purpose was to develop a “map” to illustrate how people with behavioral health needs encounter and flow through the criminal justice system.
SIM Mapping introduces agency leaders to emerging best practices and evidence-based solutions. It provides an environment where participants can network and share what their agency can provide to the local community.
The SIM Mapping workshop provided the participants with essential skills to provide a more complete response to local mental health crisis events.
The two main goals of the workshop were to:
- Plot resources and gaps in mental health services
- Utilize those services to support diversion from the criminal justice system
A Strategic Action Plan was then structured to be implemented over the next 12-24 months with a committee meeting scheduled regularly to oversee the execution of the plan.
The SIM Mapping is offered at no cost to the host and was instructed by a team of skilled professional officials from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Indiana SIM Mapping Network.
