Bell County Mental Health Indigent Defense Program: Success Stories of Specialized Representation
“Trevor”
Trevor was arrested in April, 2013, on a charge of harboring a runaway. Trevor’s attorney asked for assistance in this case as he thought Trevor might need the assistance of a case worker.
After meeting with the client and the client’s mother, the case worker thought the client might be eligible for services through Central County Services (CCS). The caseworker made an appointment for Trevor with CCS during which he was interviewed by intake personnel. After the initial intake a follow up appointment was made to talk to the CCS psychologist.
Trevor was in special education in high school and is fully deaf in one ear and has speech/language problems. The caseworker thought that he might benefit from a case worker with CCS to help him set goals and adapt independent living skills.
Trevor’s mother said that Trevor likes to work with his hands and enjoys taking things apart and putting them back together. She said that he is very capable, but just a little slow. She said that he would like to find a job and have something to do every day. He said that he gets bored staying at home all day and he wants to help his mother pay the bills. Trevor states that he doesn’t want to be a burden to his mother. Throughout this process, Trevor has been completely compliant with everything that has been asked of him.
Trevor’s mother worries what he will do when she is no longer able to care for him. He currently helps her care for her elderly mother (his grandmother) but gets frustrated and wants to be around people his age. The CCS psychologist found that Trevor does qualify for services from their program for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD).
Trevor will now be connected to a case worker from CCS and he will receive services: job skills training, money management, daily living skills, and behavioral management skills.
Although Trevor’s case has not yet been dismissed, his attorney and his caseworker are confident that the case will be dismissed at his next status hearing.
“Cynthia”
Cynthia was arrested for shoplifting in April 2013. Cynthia is a 41 year old Latino woman. Cynthia’s attorney asked for assistance with her case because he was uncertain that she was competent to stand trial and that she may be in need of social work services. The case worker met with Cynthia and learned that Cynthia had the mental health diagnoses of schizophrenia, bi-polar and psychosis. Cynthia had been an inpatient many times due to her mental health. She was connected to Central Counties (CCS) and was taking different medications for her mental health.
While waiting for her appointment, Cynthia had a few setbacks. She was evicted from her small apartment because of a disagreement with her landlord. She did not have a formal lease and promises made by the landlord were not kept and when she complained, he kicked her out. She did not have a shower in her apartment and landlord said he would install a shower, but after several months he still had not done so.
Cynthia asked the court if she could move to Austin. She was given permission to move as long as she connected to Austin’s MHMR(ATCIC). Cynthia moved to Austin and immediately made an appointment with ATCIC. She moved into a hotel where she could pay by the week.
She was offered work there as a housekeeper. They quickly promoted her to help at the front desk. She was able to save enough money to find a “normal” apartment.
The caseworker checked on her progress with ATCIC and she had not missed any appointments and her mood and her symptoms had improved and she had been in adherence with her medications and counseling services.
During her last status hearing in August, Cynthia talked about how much her life had been changed because she was given another chance. She said that she loves her job, she has new, supportive friends, has her own apartment with her own belongings and has regular mental health care. She was also offered the opportunity to become assistant manager of the hotel.
On August 15, 2013, Cynthia’s case was dismissed. The Judge told Cynthia that she was proud of her and to keep up the good work. Cynthia had tears in her eyes as she left the court room.
“Kathy”
Kathy is a young Caucasian female in her mid-twenties who was arrested on a charge of theft of property from Walmart for more than fifty dollar, but less than five hundred dollars. After meeting with Kathy, her attorney felt that “something was not right” with the client’s mental state of being. The attorney then referred Kathy to the special status docket and asked for social work assistance.
Kathy meet with the social work caseworker during court, Kathy was very emotional and was initially hard for the caseworker to gather information on the client. The caseworker, explained to the client that she was there to assist her, after extensive coaching from the caseworker and the attorney the client opened up and begin to talk.
Kathy was homeless and living in the car with her dog. She would park in public area at night to sleep, to include local police stations. Kathy is married, but have been separated from her husband for over a year. They have one daughter that lives with her husband, because Kathy is homeless. Kathy only source of income it the sixty-dollars that she receives in child support, she states that that is just enough to feed her and her dog.
The client’s mother and step-father in the local area, however the client stated that she cannot live with them because she was sexually assaulted by her step-father and she feels that her mother is denying that it happen. Kathy also, stated that she was sexually abused by other family members as a young child.
The caseworker informed the client that she qualified for services at Families in Crisis (FIC), which is a domestic abuse and sexual assault shelter. The client was not interested in staying at the shelter, however, she wanted to seek outpatient services from Families in Crisis. Kathy agreed to stay with some friends until she could afford a place of her own.
The caseworker linked the client with Families in Crisis for counseling and outreach services. The client feels comfortable with the counselor and look forward to attending her appointments. The caseworker also referred Kathy to Central Counties Services (CCS), in which she was diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The client was not given any medications at CCS and did not qualify for services based on diagnosis, but CCS recommended that she seek counseling. The client is continuing her counseling at FIC. The caseworker inquired on Kathy’s progress at FIC and the FIC counselor stated Kathy is making all of her appointments and is actively involved in her treatment plan.
The caseworker explain Kathy that she qualified for Indigent Health Care (IHC), the case worker agreed to meet Kathy at the IHC office in Killeen to assist with application process. The caseworker gave Kathy a list of items that was needed to apply for IHC; such as birth certificate, state identification, child support information, social security card, proof of food stamps, etc. Even though the client was homeless, she was very organized, she had all her supporting documents. She qualified and received her IHC the same day.
The caseworker also meet the client at the Health and Human Services to assist Kathy with updating her food stamp application. The client was only receiving seventeen dollars a month in food stamps and now she receives almost two-hundred dollars in food stamps.
The case worker also meet Kathy at the Housing Authority office in Belton to fill out a housing application. There is a two year waiting time for housing, but the client is on the waiting list.
Kathy is working for a day labor service and she now lives in a trailer park in which she assist the landlord with repair work as part of her monthly rent.
The Judge was very pleased with Kathy’s progress and agreed to dismiss the case during the client’s next court date if she agreed to pay three hundred dollars for attorney’s fees. Kathy agreed to pay the fees, her next court date is November 7, 2013.
The client expressed her gratitude for program and the support of her caseworker. As she was leaving out of court she hugged her caseworker and cried saying “thank you, thank you”. Kathy is doing well and continuing her counseling with FIC.