FBHS is responsible for planning, development, evaluation, and oversight of forensic discharge planning and community based services including the Medication Grant Program. The goal is to ensure that all consumers who leave the criminal justice system have access to necessary community based mental health services.
Mental Health Discharge Planning
The mission of discharge planning services is to identify, and arrange for the provision of, mental health care and other needed services in the community for inmates who received mental health treatment in the New York City correctional system.
Medication Grant Program
The Medication Grant Program, authorized under Section 15 of Kendra's Law, pays for medications and services to treat mental illness for people with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) who have filed a Medicaid application prior to or within seven days of discharge/release from hospitals or correctional facilities.
The program covers expenses related to other services necessary to prescribe and administer medications to treat mental illness, such as screening visits with a mental health professional, medication evaluation/diagnostic visits with a physician, provision of injectable medications by nurse, and follow-up visits to monitor for medication side effects and/or to adjust dosages and laboratory tests.
NYC Link Program
The Link Case Management program is a short-term case management program focused on transition from incarceration to the community for seriously and persistently mentally ill individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system. It provides the connection between services the individual received while incarcerated and the community services needed for a successful transition, with the goal of reducing recidivism and the criminalization of the mentally ill. The key elements of the program are court diversion, transition management, medication/entitlement assurance, and peer support.
Service Planning and Assistance Network (SPAN)
The Service Planning and Assistance Network (SPAN) assures that discharge planning and referral assistance is provided to individuals with mental health issues who are released from New York City Correctional system. SPAN provides information, referral and discharge planning services in each borough for mentally ill individuals who were not able to have discharge plans completed while incarcerated and present themselves following release from the correctional system. SPAN discharge planners complete Medicaid and Medication Grant applications as well as assisting with referrals to psychiatric services, Link, and other case management programs.
Key Staff
Patricia Brown, Assistant Commissioner
Phone: 212-341-2468
Fax: 212-341-2492
Michael Ash, Director of Discharge Planning
Phone: 718-546-4026
