Tracking The Tragedies An Update-Contra Costa
Teresa Pasquini
Mom, SMI Advocate, Co-Author, Housing That Heals, Founding member of Mental Illness FACTS, Family and Consumer True Stories
In January, I launched the #TrackingTheTragedies campaign with this story, https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/tracking-tragedies-teresa-pasquini-yumuc/. Arises isn't my child but she feels like family. She and her mom have lived in a duplex for over 15 years owned by our family. My husband and I have supported her mom since her daughter was 15 and first diagnosed with schizophrenia. I got her into a TAY Full Service Partnership after her first 5150. They sent us a graduation picture thanking us for our help. Recovery was beginning and then it stalled.
The California Full Service Partnership(FSP) model was supposed to be a fidelity ACT model. However, their implementation across the state has been varied and rarely a pure fidelity model. There have been no consistent, measurable, scalable outcomes after 20 years. The 1115 Waiver called BH Connect is currently being negotiated with CMS. It will allow counties to make ACT programs "evidence-based" or not. There should be no option or fidelity variation across the state on ACT or AOT. Opt-ins will allow trauma and tragedies to continue.
After Arises began struggling in the adult FSP program, Jackye reached out to me again in 2016. We had just won a hard-fought battle to adopt Laura's Law in Contra Costa County. I started helping Jackye to get Arises into our AOT program which was designed as a fidelity ACT model. Arises was the first to be accepted into the program. It worked. Arises recovery path continued and mom was so proud. And, Arises was proud of herself.
Here them both in their own words:
Arises had a job and was living a healthy life in recovery until COVID. The court oversight of her care had not continued. The COVID chaos caused ACT services to be inconsistent. They stopped sending someone to give Arises her monthly injection. I wrote emails on Jackye's behalf asking for support. But, it was too late. Arises relapsed hard and fast.
Jackye wasn't aware of the alternatives for calling 911 so the Rodeo Sherriff officers always responded to her cries for help. Jackye appreciated the support of the deputies. After multiple 5150s, they advised Jackye to file a restraining order which she did because her health and safety were at great risk.
Between January and April, Arises walked through Contra Costa and Alameda County's jail doors multiple times. Each time she was released without being connected to care. Each time her mom lived in fear of her untreated daughter coming home. She always did. Her Mom would have to call the police again to maintain the restraining order she had been advised to file. Mom would call me each time sobbing and wondering why she couldn't get help for her child. I did my best to help her.
She had a victim advocate assigned to her but it wasn't enough support. I reached out to my Contra Costa County partners and asked, "How can we stop criminalizing Arises for her severe mental illness? We have tried all levels of least-restricted care. It's time to get her into an appropriate level of medically necessary treatment in a secure, non-carceral facility. How can we make that happen?" I received an immediate response. Jackye finally got help.
Two weeks ago, after several hearings and months of being untreated in the county jail waiting for competency evaluations, Arises was found to be incompetent to stand trial. Contra Costa's Judge Campins ordered her to be treated while waiting for a state hospital bed. Judge Campins also granted Jackye's request to amend the restraining order to allow Jackye to visit her daughter when she is transferred to Napa State Hospital. The judge acknowledged Jackye for supporting her daughter. It made Jackye feel good because she didn't want people to think she didn't love her child. The helplessness and shame Moms feel is a real deal.
Jackye called me immediately after court on July 24, 2024. She was so relieved and grateful. It is hard to explain how moms are happy when their kids are found incompetent to stand trial. We know they will at least get out of jail and receive treatment. It's comforting even though that treatment may make them competent to stand trial and send them back to jail again. It's a twisted reality and its inhumane.
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My husband and I went over to visit Jackye that afternoon. I wanted to hug her mom to mom. I remember how it felt each time my Danny was in Arises situation. It is an overwhelming feeling of relief mixed with so much worry about what happens next. I tried to explain to Jackye what would happen next. But, she just wanted to focus on the positive
On Wednesday, I received another call from Jackye. It had been two weeks and she had not received any updates. She wasn't sleeping. She didn't know if Arises was still in Contra Costa's Martinez Detention Center. She didn't know how to find out. She asked me to help her. I reached out again to a county partner who responded with information that I passed on to Jackye.
Jackye said that she was afraid that Arises had forgotten her number. She didn't want her to be scared and alone. She wants everyone to know that Arises has a family who loves her. "We are not throwing her away," she said.
#FamiliesLikeMine need authentic partners in care who will help us navigate and communicate before, during, and after a crisis. We can not do it on our own. Together is the only way forward.
Jackye asked me to post this picture with this update. It is a picture of Arises sitting in their garden. She wants her to come home as soon as possible.
Volunteer Policy Director, MA, at National Shattering Silence Coalition on Steering & PAC committee(s) dedicated to improving our country’s treatment of serious brain illness. Spreading awareness on anosognosia & AOT.
2 个月I love #trackingthetragedies and will definitely hashtag when I post about ones I am hearing. Hopefully that will gather all the stories in one location to read and move Washington DC and state legislators to act from a place of hard earned experiences. I know Treatment Advocacy Center family resources department keeps track of stories. At National Shattering Silence Coalition we have been putting stories in video format with AwareNow Media. The next one will be coming out this fall, hopefully. ??
Advocate for families of brain disorders: SMI and SUD at FAISMI family advocates for individuals with serious mental illness
3 个月So well said! Yes, I feel same things described of the supportive family member. Thank you for willingness to share publicly and openly—it helps break the silence and lighten/end shame.
Teacher, Librarian, Technologist, Life Coach, Future Clinical Mental Health Counselor: I empower people, helping them figure out what they need to get where they want to go~
3 个月This is me. My son sat in jail for 9 months, losing over 50 pounds, while waiting to be declared incompetent. He was transferred to a Florida forensic facility to gain competency. They treated his delusions and hallucinations, but not the numerous other symptoms he is still having. He is in great psychological pain and has asked repeatedly for medical treatment. They have him on ineffective medications. I told them this repeatedly and the staff ignored me. But, he is competent! So back he goes to jail. I am utterly exhausted physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. My heart goes out to Jackye. I understand.
Mental Health Advocate/ Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
3 个月Thanks Teresa! You’re work on behalf of all us who happened to be diagnosed with SMI will change policy and how we are perceived! I really believe that! You rock Teresa!
Nurse Consultant, Advocate for those living with Serious Brain Disorders
3 个月We need to be tracking the tragedies in every state - I agree we are better together and need to collectively come together so that we are too loud to ignore!