Catalyst for My Journey of Recovery “Law Enforcement” Catalyst for My Journey of Recovery Bill Carruthers Certified Peer Specialist Gateway Behavioral Health Services Savannah, Georgia CIT International Conference Hartford, CT October 14 – 16, 2013

Born into Challenging Circumstances  Birth  Abandoned  Economic  Poverty

First Encounter with Law Enforcement  Family  Drug Dealers  Ladies of the Night  Police Encounter  Treatment  Result

First Incarceration  Treatment  Social Services  Result  Police Encounter  Treatment  Result  Court System  Release  Social Services  Medical Services

Repeat Incarcerations & Hospitalizations  Hustling for Survival  Homelessness  Addictions

40 Years of Falling Through System Gaps  Law Enforcement  Courts  Mental Health  Social Service

Circle of Support – Closing Gaps  Law Enforcement  Savannah/Chatham Metro Police Dept.  Savannah Impact Program  CIT Trained Officers  Courts  Mental Health Court Program

Circle of Support – Closing Gaps (continued)  Mental Health Services  Intensive Case Management Programs  ODR (Opening Doors to Recovery Project)  Recovery Place  Savannah Counseling Services  Union Mission  Advocacy Groups  Alcoholics Anonymous  GA Health Consumer Network  Narcotics Anonymous  National Alliance on Mental Illness  Religious Organizations  Mustard Seed Faith Church

GBI - GA Crime Information Center (GCIC) Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) Maintains computerized criminal history database Provides Law Enforcement 24/7 electronic access to criminal history information Entry of Participants by Navigation Specialists Participant’s consent required ODR Response Returned in Addition to Other CJIS Responses Inquiry by Law Enforcement ODR Database Hit Received Email Notification to Navigation Specialists Types of Inquires Wanted / Missing Person Drivers License Criminal History Sex Offender Protection Order Georgia’s CJIS Network Direct access to over 32 computerized databases Has > 17,000 users operating over 10,000 devices Handles more than 30 million messages per month in support of Georgia's criminal justice agencies. CJIS Network Criminal Justice Information System Network, Managed by GBI

Path to Recovery and Independence  CIT Trained Law Enforcement Officers  Community Based Case Management  Real-Time Electronic Communication  Peer Support Groups & Services

Closing Gaps Made My Recovery Possible

Bill Carruthers: Giving Back by Helping Others  Certified Peer Specialist  Certified Addiction Recovery  Empowerment Specialist (C.A.R.E.S.)  CIT Certified  Peer Program Director Savannah Counseling Service  NAMI Peer Mentor  Local Advisory Committee (LAC)  Jail Diversion Trauma Recovery Program  Former ODR Peer Navigator

Thank You!