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Criminal Justice

Education Session E

E11 - From Lived Experience to Lasting Change: Community Collaboration to Divert People With Mental Illness From Justice System Involvement

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM MDT
Location: Bluebird 3E

Unrestricted Education Sponsor 
NASW CCB ACCME NY-SW NY-MHC NBCC NADAAC
People with mental illness are overrepresented in our nation's criminal justice system. Many communities have found success in collaborating across mental health and criminal justice systems in order to divert people into recovery and care. During this session led by NAMI, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, you'll hear various perspectives on how your community can collaborate to both divert individuals from the justice system and support reentry. Participants will walk away with inspiration and concrete steps for beginning and furthering these efforts in their community.

Learning Objectives:

  • Examine the importance of cross-system collaboration for diverting people with mental illness from the criminal justice system and how to incorporate into your community's mental health system.
  • Identify key strategies and tools for initiating and building collaboration to support people with MH/SUD.
  • Explore the different partners you can work with to build improved diversion and reentry programs in your community.
Disclosure(s):
Hannah Wesolowski: No financial relationships to disclose
Shannon Scully, MPP: No financial relationships to disclose
Ray Merenstein: No financial relationships to disclose

    Breakout Presenter(s)

  • Hannah Wesolowski

    Chief Advocacy Officer
    National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
    Arlington, Virginia

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    Slides

  • Shannon Scully, MPP

    Director, Justice Policy and Initiatives
    NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness
    Arlington, Virginia

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

  • Ray Merenstein

    Executive Director
    NAMI Colorado
    Englewood, Colorado

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

  • JC

    Jonathan Culwell

    Principal
    The Mental Health Law Firm
    Denver, Colorado

    Disclosure information not submitted.