Video of 1/9/21 Behavioral Health Community Issues and Partnerships in Lee County

Clara Anne Graham, President of the League of Women Voters of Lee County invites League members and the public to an educational program on Lee County Behavioral Health Community Issues and Partnerships and the 20th Judicial Circuit Behavioral Courts.  The LWV supports policies for problem solving or specialty courts, including mental health and drug courts, in all judicial districts to provide needed treatment and avoid inappropriate entry into the criminal justice system. Our panel of experts will help us understand the "Wrap Around Services" treatment model and community partnerships used by the 20th Judicial Circuit Behavioral Courts in Lee County.

The Lee County Behavioral Court High Need/High Need Utilizer (HNHU) Demonstration Project is a partnership with the Lee Health Systems, Lee County Public Defender's Office, Lee County Sheriff's Office, Judge H. Andrew Swett, SalusCare, Centerstone of Florida, Inc., and Community Assisted Living, Inc. (CASL).  The project is for persons who have a mental health disability and/or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder that have a high history of admission rates in the acute care and/or forensic systems.  The project goals are to demonstrate improved client stability, decreased utilization of acute care systems, and to provide sportive housing and linkage to behavioral health supports.

Panelists:

   Judge Howard Andrew Swett, 20th Judicial Circuit Behavioral Courts

Judge Swett served as an Assistant State Attorney in Fort Myers, practiced criminal defense and civil litigation and in 2011 was appointed to the County Court bench. Judge Swett has taken over the Mental Health Court docket and one of the Drug Court dockets. Also, he was instrumental in beginning the new Veterans Court docket.  Judge Swett is currently on the board of NAMI of Lee County (National Alliance on Mental Illness) as well as a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers.

 Lieutenant LaDonna Brady, Lee County Sheriff's Office 

Lieutenant Brady has been with the Sheriff's Office since 2007. Currently Lieutenant Brady is in the services division overseeing Re-Entry, Programs, Education, Chaplain Services, Special projects, Daywork Program as well as contracts. Lieutenant Brady earned her Associates in Arts in Security Administration and is a Certified Jail Manager. She is actively working with community partners to overcome issues faced by those leaving incarceration returning to the streets.

 Phillip Brooks, COO, Community Assisted and Supported Living, Inc

Mr. Brooks is an accomplished behavioral health executive and forward looking strategist with over 30 years of providing leadership and development of programs that assist people in need of intervention across a broad continuum of care and multiple environments. He is a highly respected subject matter expert in the field of behavioral health. Proven communicator, from the board room, to the front desk and in the community. A "roll up your sleeves" leader whose coaching style develops employee loyalty to the organizational mission and vision. The one who is turned to “to get things done.”