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Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

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Judging in Tribal Healing to Wellness Family Drug and Mental Health Courts:The Challenges and the RewardsSiera Russell, Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Court, USA (srussell@phoenixlaw.edu)Alcoholism, addiction, alcohol and substance abuse, and mental health disorders are among themost severe public health and safety problems facing American Indian individuals, families, andcommunities, resulting in devastating social, economic, physical, mental, and spiritualconsequences. American Indians and Alaska Natives are at higher risk for certain mental healthdisorders than other racial/ethnic groups. Alcohol and substance abuse, mental health disorders,suicide, violence, and behavior-related chronic diseases are devastating issues across Indianreservations. In 2005, the Yavapai-Apache Nation (YAN) in northern Arizona, a tribalcommunity <strong>of</strong> approximately 2,000 enrolled members, formed its first Healing to Wellness Court- the YAN Mental Health Court. The purpose <strong>of</strong> the Mental Health Court is to provide a processfor people with diagnosable alcohol/substance abuse and a mental health disorder to participatein a therapeutic judicial approach to rehabilitation, restoration, and recovery. The participantreceives assessments, treatment planning, and additional services determined through acollaborative, multidisciplinary team decision making process. In the YAN Wellness MentalHealth Court the judge and treatment/behavioral specialist roles are significant in establishingand maintaining the participant’s stability. However, some <strong>of</strong> the other key players in this courtinclude the community’s law enforcement, defense counsel, prosecution, education, housing, andsocial services. I am an enrolled member <strong>of</strong> the Yavapai-Apache Nation and served as AssociateJudge for my Nation. Based on my experience presiding over the YAN, Healing to WellnessCourts: Adult Drug, Family Drug, and Mental Health Court, I will share the communication andprocess strategies that proved effective and less than effective.Discussants for all presentations in this panel: Rodney Mitchell, John Houston, DeputyMaricopa County Public Defenders, supervising and assigned to the specialty courts in MaricopaCounty Superior Court; and Devra Ellexson, Deputy Maricopa County Public Defender,Juvenile Court, Maricopa County Superior Court.191. Justicia Terapéutica: Delincuencia y DrogasLa importancia de la Justicia Terapéutica en la mediación y resolución deconflictos penalesMarcos Kac, Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de Río de Janeiro, Brasil(mkac@globo.com)453

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