1. Youth Forensic Service
Mental Health & the Law
North Bay Regional Health Centre
CARE with courage

2. Situated on the Canadian Shield, rugged geography
QUICK FACTS
Situated on the Canadian Shield, rugged geography
564,000 residents
415,000 km2 or approximately 42% of the Ontario's land
Hudson Bay to Muskoka and from Sault Ste. Marie to the Quebec border
JAMES BAY COAST
HPW

3. Mandate
Court ordered assessments of Fitness to Stand Trial and Criminal Responsibility as well as Treatment Orders for youth (ages 12-18) in Northeast Ontario.
In accordance with Part XX.1 (mental disorder) of the Criminal Code of Canada, and referenced in Section of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

4. Catalyst for Action Caseload Demographic in NE 2012/13 Digital story
85 to 100 youth in courts; 63 males; 35 females; average age 16
4 youth may have required forensic psychiatric assessments (1 fitness and 2 criminal responsibility)
complex needs + high risk offending behaviours
common disorders: substance abuse, conduct, mood, personality, developmental disabilities
Digital story

6. Overarching Principles
Least restrictive & most developmentally appropriate milieu
Minimize psychosocial & emotional impacts
Mainly on an out-patient basis, face to face or OTN
Inpatient admission = last resort
Tailored / individualized
consistent with clinical needs and safety
avoiding additional displacement caused by the judicial process
forensic assessments are available at the NBRHC when all other options have been exhausted

7. Assessment Service Algorithm
Dynamic
Emphasis on out of custody

8. Service Protocol NBRHC/MCYS North Region
Flexible forensic assessment service delivery options
Including in residential facilities (detention/custodial facilities)
Outlines roles & responsibilities
Service coordination b/w probation officer, facility & NBRHC Coordinator

9. Our Team
Coordinator
Collaboration between Forensic & Child/Adolescent Psychiatry
Social Work
Telemedicine Coordinator
Consultations with other professional disciplines
Outreach Team
Partnership with community teams (i.e., Early Episode in Psychosis Service)
Coordinator to oversee all referrals and provide information and system navigation and Assertive Outreach/Liaison
will ensure OTN connections and appointment coordination.
(i.e., psychology, behaviour therapy, social work, occupational therapy, youth service workers and nursing)
Outreach team trained and poised to provide support and monitoring for any youth living in the community
Collaborative model = with youth justice partners (court workers, youth detention/custodial facilities, community agencies)

10. Benefits early identification tool
assessment reports provide courts with recommendations for appropriate treatment and rehabilitation options
forensic assessment needs attended to in an individualized and timely manner
youth found NCR or unfit be placed on a disposition order under the authority of the ORB
Assessments serve as
early intervention and treatment thus promoting a more favourable prognosis for recovery
reduce psychosocial and emotional impacts caused by improper sentencing.
expediting the court process
ensuring ongoing linkage to a forensic hospital, appropriate treatment and clinical services.

11. Outcomes alter / reverse trajectory
clinical & risk management recommendations
virtual, ambulatory, in situ, clinic approaches
integrated partnerships = integrated service
interface of child/adolescent + forensic psychiatry
mobilize funding for incremental costs for all assessments
system navigation/case management

12. Metrics referrals and source appropriate referrals to YFS diversions
NCR vs Fitness
treatment orders
required in-patients admissions for assessment

13. “Adolescent forensic mental health services that view their role as existing solely within the walls of agencies and organizations have too narrow a vision” Youth Forensic Services Development, New Zealand

14. Contact Information
Hélène Philbin Wilkinson
Administrative Director
Mental Health & the Law, NBHRC
50 College drive, North Bay, ON P1B 5A4
ext. 2514
Natalie Généreux
Manager Outreach Services
Mental Health & the Law, NBRHC