The Forensic Access to Community Services (FACS) program will address the growing number of offenders who have serious mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders. The three-year grant will provide $402,238 a year in funding to expand mental health services while creating opportunities for research and training in addressing substance abuse in the criminal justice system.

FACS is an innovative clinical service offering jail diversion and stabilization services to dually diagnosed clients involved with the West Roxbury District Court.

This service offers case management, intensive case management and integrated psychiatry and substance abuse services. Funded through a $1.2 million Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant, and administered by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, this service seeks to address the burgeoning population of incarcerated individuals with mental illness by addressing their psychosocial needs in addition to their psychiatric symptoms.

New England Medical Center employees based at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital provide an array of community based services including assessments at the Court, at Suffolk County House of Correction, clinical groups at the Women's Resource Center (a day reporting center for female offenders), and intensive case management designed to help clients live productive lives by managing their mental illness, overcoming their addictions, and avoiding future arrests.

Cultural Appropriateness
The jurisdiction served by this program includes a variety of ethnic and racial minority groups. The FACS program is committed to making services culturally sensitive, responsive and equally accessible to all groups. A cultural competency consultant is advising the program and providing ongoing training to staff. Continuous feedback from consumers and the Community Advisory Board will be used to implement improvements throughout the program's duration.

Sustainability
A major goal of the program is to establish the infrastructure for linking mentally ill offenders to community services and demonstrating the benefits and cost effectiveness of providing these linkages. The model will be promoted within the criminal justice and mental health systems in an effort to secure long-term funding to continue the program beyond the period of federal funds.

Contact Us
To learn more about this service please contact the FACS Clinical Coordinator at 617-971-3375 or the FACS Probation Officer at 617-971-1107.

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