Solution: Mental Health Assistants

Two alleged murderers in LA County jail take on one of the biggest problems to date: incarceration of people with mental illness. Not only is this a pressing issue within jails and prisons, the lack of treatment and support for people with mental illness is contributing to our homeless issues throughout Los Angeles and the rest of the country. &quote;The Solution&quote; details effective strategies and successful methods for treating and caring for the mentally challenged. It is presented as a three part-analysis on how patients (inmates) are treated, the structure under which treatment is delivered and the goal of the Mental Health Assistants who deliver the treatment. It also highlights the effort and teamwork necessary to make this treatment a success in the incarcerated environment. Finally, &quote;The Solution&quote; is a demonstrative guide for those who desire a successful treatment program of their own. This book is written, researched and published by two inmates at Los Angeles County Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF); young men who underwent a rigorous preparation to transfer from other county facilities into the towers that hold mentally ill inmates. One author has spent 12 years on death row and the other is a juvenile offender who has been awaiting trial for the past seven years. These two committed men have become the solution through their work as Mental Health Assistants at TTCF. The authors live 24/7 with acutely ill patients in a specialized setting which provides more intensive treatment and encouragement to prevent isolation, decompensation, and re-hospitalization. They have taken the initiative to develop a curriculum that address life skills, communication, court competency and planning for the future. With no direct access to computers or email, they cobbled together educational modules, quizzes, incentives and rewards to provide a much-needed structure to the men with whom they are embedded. This entire book was written out long-hand with a pencil and they had to exercise great patience and diligence to see it through to publication. Their hope is that others will find this program inspiring and useful. They themselves have benefitted from the opportunity to be of service to the inmates. Further, the inmates who participate in this program are better prepared to understand the legal proceedings they will experience, and they are better prepared for life on the outside.