Words to DeedsChanging the Paradigm for Criminal Justice and Mental HealthSince 2003, Words to Deeds has provided a unique forum that has evolved into a standard best practice for creating a true shift in the paradigm for criminal justice and mental health by fostering successful and ongoing collaboration among courts, criminal justice agencies, mental health professions, and governmental and nongovernmental organizations, with the aim of achieving substantial positive change in the way individuals with mental illness are treated within our communities.
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Mission
The leaders in criminal justice and mental health participating in this effort strive to end the criminalization of individuals with mental illness by supporting proven strategies that promote early intervention, access to effective treatments, a planned reentry, and the preservation of public safety.
Vision
A true shift in the paradigm between criminal justice and mental health will embody an effective jail diversion system that fosters a successful and ongoing exchange of information among courts, criminal justice agencies, mental health professions, governmental agencies, and nongovernmental organizations, to achieve a substantial positive change in the way individuals with mental illness are treated within our communities.
Leadership Group
- Deanna Adams – Senior Analyst, Judicial Council of California, Criminal Justice Services, Operations & Programs Division
- Bill Brown – Sheriff-Coroner, Santa Barbara County
- Michelle Cabrera — Executive Director, County Behavioral Health Directors Association
- Grace Childs – Executive Associate, Urban Counties of California
- Cathy Coyne – Government Affairs Liaison (Ret.), California State Sheriffs’ Association
- Christina Edens – Deputy Director, Forensic Services Division, California Department of State Hospitals
- Hallie Fader-Towe – Senior Policy Advisor, Council of State Governments Justice Center
- Morgan Grabau – Events & Communications Director, Forensic Mental Health Association of California
- Brenda Grealish – Executive Officer, Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health
- Carmen Green – Executive Director, California State Sheriffs’ Association
- Catherina Isidro – Executive Director, Forensic Mental Health Association of California
- Kathryn Jett – Senior Policy Consultant, Shatterproof
- Karen Larsen – Chief Executive Officer, The Steinberg Institute
- Sheree Lowe – Vice President, Policy, California Hospital Association
- Lahela Mattox – Chief Operations Officer, San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless
- Rosie McCool – Deputy Director, Chief Probation Officers of California
- David Meyer – Clinical Professor, Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, USC Keck School of Medicine
- Ryan Morimune – Administration of Justice Legislative Representative, California State Association of Counties
- Ashley Mills – Research Supervisor, Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission
- Jolie Onodera – Health and Behavioral Health Legislative Representative, California State Association of Counties
- Mike Radford – Bureau Chief, Training Program Services Bureau, Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training
- Stephanie Regular – Assistant Public Defender, Contra Costa County
- Tyler Rinde – Deputy Director, Child Welfare Policy – The California Alliance of Child and Family Services
- Linda Tomasello – Consultant, Crisis Intervention Training
- Kit Wall – Words to Deeds Project Director, Kit Wall Productions
- Tracey Whitney – Assistant Head Deputy, Writs & Appeals Division, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
- Molly Willenbring – Executive Director, First Responder Support Network
- Helene Zentner – Field Representative, California Board of State and Community Corrections
- Carrie Zoller – Supervising Attorney, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts
Conference
FMHAC is proud to host the annual Words to Deeds conference, which gives leaders in California the opportunity to discuss relevant issues in forensic mental health. The Words to Deeds conference is for "First Adapters," defined as decision makers who collaborate to develop and implement strategies to change the paradigm for criminal justice and mental health. This conference is limited to 100 "First Adapters" in order to provide meaningful interaction with peer leaders interested in moving from "Words" to "Deeds." The event features dynamic presentations, as well as multidisciplinary discussions among agency and organization leaders in criminal justice and corrections, state and local governments, the judiciary, and behavioral health directors and providers.
