Regional summits planned to address...

LEWISBURG — The Union County Government Building will host a regional summit aimed at addressing behavioral and mental health within the court system.The event, which is one of seven across the state, will be held Oct. 20 at the county government building, 155 N. 15th St., Lewisburg. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dougherty this week announced the series of regional summits aimed at addressing issues within the court system.“Courts across Pennsylvania are seeing the growing impact of mental and behavioral health issues on the individuals who appear before us,” Dougherty said in a media release. “One of the biggest challenges we face in addressing behavioral health issues is breaking down silos that prevent people from getting care and support they need. Effective and holistic problem solving cannot be done alone, and collaboration is essential to improve access to care and quality of life for Pennsylvanians affected by serious mental illness and other behavioral health concerns."Spearheaded by Dougherty, these events are part of the court’s Behavioral Health in the Courts initiative and are designed to strengthen partnerships between the judiciary, system partners, behavioral health providers and community stakeholders to improve outcomes for individuals with mental and behavioral health challenges who come into contact with the justice system."These regional summits will give us a chance to come together as partners to ensure our responses are more informed, compassionate and effective," Dougherty said. "In the end, all of Pennsylvania will benefit and our communities will be stronger.”The summits will bring together judges, court staff, behavioral health professionals, county officials, law enforcement and others working at the intersection of justice and behavioral health. The goal is to share best practices, address challenges and continue building a coordinated approach that prioritizes treatment and support over unnecessary court involvement and incarceration.The Behavioral Health in the Courts initiative supports court-led strategies to better connect individuals with services and reduce the cycle of crisis, arrest and recidivism. The regional summits will focus on practical strategies for collaboration, diversion programs, crisis response and access to person-centered care.— JUSTIN STRAWSE