Variation in Approaches to Supervising Adults with Mental Illnesses: Results from the Nationwide Survey of Probation and Mental Health
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SESSION INFO

Wednesday, August 25, 2021
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Session Type: Workshop
In partnership with the American Probation and Parole Association and Pew Charitable Trusts, a research team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a nationwide study to (1) estimate the prevalence of mental illnesses among people on probation, (2) examine the ways in which probation agencies approach supervising people with mental illnesses, and (3) understand the impact that COVID-19 had on probationers with mental illnesses. The overall goal of this study was to obtain a snapshot of the scope of mental illness among probationers in all 50 states and to be able to share strategies that counties and states are using to address the complex needs of this population. This session describes the background and methods of the study and reports on the study’s key findings with a focus on actionable recommendations for jurisdictions interested in implementing or enhancing a specialized mental health probation approach.

SESSION PRESENTERS
Kyleigh Clark-Moorman
Principal Research Associate, Pew Charitable Trusts


Kyleigh Clark-Moorman is a principal research associate for Pew Charitable Trusts’ public safety performance project, where she analyzes criminal and juvenile justice policies and practices that protect public safety, ensure accountability, and reduce correctional populations and costs. Prior to joining Pew, Dr. Clark-Moorman worked with various state agencies to improve criminal justice outcomes. Kyleigh holds a BA in international studies, an MA in international and comparative politics, and an MA and PhD in criminology and criminal justice.

Mariah Cowell
Project Manager, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Mariah Cowell, MSW, is a Project Manager at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Social Work and a Project Coordinator for the Center for Health Equity Research in the Health & Justice Lab at UNC. She currently works on interdisciplinary research teams that focus on the implementation and evaluation of interventions in the justice system and the intersection of the carceral system and health outcomes. Cowell holds a bachelors degree in Social Work from University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master’s degree in Social Work from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Megan Foster
, American Probation and Parole Association


Megan Foster, MSW is a program analyst with the American Probation and Parole Association. In this role, she manages and works on a variety of APPA’s grant-funded projects. These projects range from training and technical assistance to research and evaluation of community supervision programs. Her projects have included workforce and workload issues, tribal program, victims’ issues in community supervision, justice reform and implementation of evidence-based practices. Prior to coming to APPA, she worked as a direct practitioner and program manager in victims’ services and reentry programs. She has specialized experience working in reentry with women and families as well as training and implementation of trauma-informed practices and programs. Megan received her B.A. in Women’s Studies from the George Washington University and her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Tonya Van Deinse, PhD
Research Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Tonya Van Deinse, PhD, MSW, is a clinical associate professor at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work and a mental health services researcher focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions that span the mental health and criminal justice systems. Dr. Van Deinse’s current research projects focus on nationwide approaches to probation for adults with mental illnesses, using implementation science to enhance the uptake of specialty mental health probation, implementing and evaluating integrated re-entry programming for adults with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders exiting county detention, and evaluating the implementation and efficacy of data-driven supervision guidelines for probation.