Health Department Forms Folder 0065, 1999-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

• Two categories of mentally ill inmates in the custody of DOC: City-sentenced inmates on Rikers Island and non-sentenced detainees.

Class members to receive a discharge plan from ajail-based discharge planner employed by HHC or its vendor for Rikers Island medical services, Prison Health Services (PHS).

Inmates released with incomplete discharge plan or released from court to be referred to one of the community SPAN offices, contracted by the Department of Mental Health, and located near the courts. SPAN office discharge planners will provide the same services for class members as the jail-based discharge planners as outlined below.

• Prescriptions for psychotropic medication, and in some cases a walking supply of up to five days of medication, to be provided to class members who are discharged from DOC custody.

• Evaluation of Medicaid and public assistance needs and facilitation of applications, including screening for accelerated Medicaid eligibility.

• Determination of housing needs, referral if appropriate and available to specialized mental health housing or DHS's proposed Correctional Review Unit for accelerated review of placement in specialized mental health shelter beds if appropriate. Increase in DHS mental health shelter capacity to accommodate need. -

• For most seriously mentally ill, referral to enhanced LINK programs or more intensive mental health case management resources.

• Changes in DOC release policies so class members released during the day.

• Provision of enhanced DOC resources for security and escort functions for the program, including production of inmates for discharge planning appointments and detainee class members at the clinic for their final discharge plan prior to release.

• Enhancement of DOC Inmate Information System (IIS), new IIS terminals for the discharge planners, a trailer at West Facility for HHC/CHS's monitoring and supervisory staff, and a DMH tracking system.

NYC-WTC 000138008