HANCOCK COUNTY — The first participant to take part in Hancock County Superior Court 1’s Behavioral Health Court has graduated and is moving on with her life.
Recently Judge D.J. Davis, who oversees the program he started in January 2022, and Behavior Health Court Coordinator Karey Wall celebrated the graduation of Jennifer Coomer. Instead of spending time in jail for a county offense, Coomer was assigned to the BHC to help get her life back on track; after two years of following the program, she has graduated.
“Some people get in trouble with the law, and their mental health is clearly a factor of why,” Davis said. “We see improvement in our participants every month, and one key question I ask to participants from time to time is, think back to a year ago and where you in were in you your life, and compare then to now. How has it changed?”
Davis notes not everyone, but many, of the 32 participants have made drastic positive steps in their lives thanks to the programming being offered through the court system. He said there are a handful of other participants expected to enter the program as soon as this spring after a few more current participants are able to graduate.
“And, I would guess, we see a long progress in about 80% of our participants,” Davis said. “I can’t tell you how many times (one of) of my Behavioral Health Court team members says, ‘This is the best I have ever seen him or her.’”
Coomer is one of four graduates who have gone through BHC, rather than serve time in jail or prison following an offense.
“Jennifer was our fourth graduate, however she was our very first participant in the court,” Wall said. “Participants frequently express gratitude for the program and the support they receive through it, and gratitude to Judge Davis for giving them this opportunity is often expressed. We have heard various participants say, ‘I don’t know where I would be if it weren’t for BHC.’”
Wall noted it’s gratifying to see participants begin to, waveringly, take the first steps toward accountability and change in their life circumstances.
“Seeing their growth in confidence in their ability to make effective life decisions gives me pride in them and the work I get to do,” Wall said. “Hearing them tell their story as they present for graduation pulls it all together for myself and the Behavioral Health Court team, reminding us that this is why we come to work every day and that growth, change and recovery are possible.”
Wall went on to say they do see small success every day in BHC, particularly when participants choose to use their coping skills instead of relapsing, or when participants reach out and ask for help. Wall said it’s also been positive to see participants pursue steps like making a therapy appointment, working hard to regain custody of their children, landing a new job or a promotion, or earning their driver’s license back.
“We feel that we set the stage for our participants to make life-long real change,” Wall said. “We see daily successes of recovery milestones being met, coping skills being utilized, resources in the community being utilized, trauma being healed, parents learning how to effectively parent, therapy goals being met, etc. Each success builds on the other and paints the picture for continued success and lifelong change.”
Wall said Behavioral Health Court, as a relatively new self-help court program, shows signs of success but has also encountered a couple of challenges.
“We have found it difficult to find placement for appropriate residential treatment for participants who are experiencing a decline in their mental health but don’t have a significant substance abuse history,” Wall said. “There are acute stays for those at risk of hurting themselves or others, and there are outpatient services such as therapy and some group options.” But sometimes, she said, it’s more difficult to find the right placement for people somewhere in between — stable enough to not be a danger, but not yet stable enough to manage symptoms or medications independently.
Wall noted some of those situations take care of themselves when a supportive family is present, but in some instances, participants are not so fortunate.
“Another difficulty we have run into is a shortage of therapists,” Wall said. “Several studies that I reviewed show that Indiana rates low on access to mental health, and this is felt by BHC in some instances.”
However, on a positive note, Wall says Indiana is making gains in access to mental health and that will end up helping more people down the road. Wall is planning a mental health awareness day in May as well as other activities to help the participants as well as other community members.
The BHC meets the second and fourth Friday of every month in Superior Court 1.
“Anyone who attends, can gain some skills listen to our BHC Court session,” Davis said. “We have had several parents and friends of participants who thank me and my team for what we are doing.”