Mental Health & Criminal Justice Summit

Friday, March 19, 2021

Location: Virtual

Registration is Open until March 19, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.

We hope you'll join us!

(If you've already registered, you'll view the Summit by going to https://eventmobi.com/namiindianasummit/ The email address you provided when you registered is your username. You'll be asked to create a password if you haven't already done so. Then you're in! Join the Livestream for a day full of keynotes, workshops, networking, exhibitors, discussion groups, and a Summit Scavenger Hunt! If you have any trouble logging in the morning of March 19, please contact info@namiindiana.org for assistance.)

NAMI Indiana's Mental Health and Criminal Justice Summit will be held on Friday March 19, 2021 as a VIRTUAL event. Each year, NAMI Indiana pulls together a diverse group of leaders from the criminal justice field to provide education and new tools for professionals. The Mental Health and Criminal Justice Summit creates significant and positive changes in policies within Indiana's criminal justice system.

"NAMI Indiana has proven itself to be a great convener on these issues and a leader in fostering collaboration" - Summit attendee

"Looking forward to what I consider to be the most educational conference in the area because of the quality of the presenters and their credentials. Keep up the good work." - Summit exhibitor

There are a limited number of SCHOLARSHIPS available for individuals living with mental illness or their family members to attend the Summit. If you meet that criteria and are interested in applying for a scholarship, please click on the Scholarship Application button below. For a printable version, please contact Marianne Halbert mhalbert@namiindiana.org The scholarship application DEADLINE is March 18, 2021 at 5:00 pm.

Take a peek at our digital Summit Program Guide


  • Exhibitors

  • NAMI Indiana staff and board members

  • Sponsors

  • Presenter bios

  • Agenda

  • Information on CIT (Crisis Intervention Teams) in Indiana

  • Information on Sharing Your Story with Law Enforcement

Topics

Plenary Sessions:

  • Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops

ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS is an intimate portrait of two Texas police officers who are helping change the way police respond to mental health calls. The film takes audiences on a personal journey, weaving together Ernie and Joe’s experiences during their daily encounters with people in crisis. These two officers are not your everyday cops. They are part of the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit. We’ll view selected scenes from the film, followed by a live discussion and Q & A with Ernie Stevens and Joe Smarro as they share their experiences. Attendees will have access to view the full film after the event.


  • CAHOOTS: Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets

CAHOOTS is a public safety system that has been operated by the White Bird Clinic in Eugene, Oregon since 1989. A CAHOOTS team consists of a medic and a crisis worker. They respond to calls regarding mental illness, substance use disorders, suicide threats, homelessness and more. CAHOOTS team members are not law enforcement and do not carry weapons. They rely on trauma-informed de-escalation and harm reduction techniques. This program saves the city of Eugene an estimated $8.5 million in public safety spending annually.

Workshop topics include:

  • An Interdisciplinary Approach to Reducing Recidivism

  • Competency Restorations: Innovations in Indiana

  • Responding to Veterans in Crisis

  • Spice-ophrenia: What We Have Learned in the IDOC about the Mental Health Consequences of Synthetic Drug Use

  • The Assessment and Intervention Center: Indianapolis' Commitment to Pre-arrest Diversion and Treatment Linkage

  • Sharing Your Story with Law Enforcement - A Story of Lived Experience

Continuing Education for Professionals

Registration to the Summit includes continuing education credits (5.5 hours of ILEA and 5.5 hours of CEU for L.S.W., L.C.S.W., L.M.F.T., L.M.H.C., L.A.C, and L.C.A.C.; A total of 5 hours of CLE/NLS), access to all plenary sessions, workshops, all exhibitors in our virtual exhibitor hall, as well as networking opportunities and gamification challenges.

Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors

For sponsor information, please email mhalbert@namiindiana.org