• Pre-Booking Diversion: Pre-Booking Diversion services offer persons diagnosed with a developmental disability, mental illness, or substance use disorder the opportunity to receive treatment within the community instead being charged with a criminal offense for a non-violent misdemeanor. Diversion is accomplished through a comprehensive, county-wide partnership between law enforcement, the public mental health system, advocates, and other stakeholders. On average, 97 pre-booking diversions are initiated per month.For questions, contact malcomt@oaklandchn.org

• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT): CIT is a nationally recognized community program that establishes a partnership between law enforcement and mental health professionals. It is strategically designed to promote positive outcomes during crisis situations that require police assistance. During CIT Training, officers receive 40 hours of comprehensive mental health training, which includes information about mental illness and developmental disabilities, opportunities to speak with advocates, individuals with mental illness and their families, and participation in role-playing scenarios.  Since 2015, 1,316 (10/1/25) law enforcement officers in Oakland County have received training, including additional training to hone skills in interacting with youth (CIT-Youth) and in corrections.

Treatment Courts

OCHN assists Oakland County courts in providing diversion opportunities for those with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. The OCHN Liaisons work in tandem with the courts to provide assessment services, connect to treatment providers, community resources, and to assist individuals in improving quality of life and reducing recidivism rates.

Current partners with embedded Liaisons include:

• 45th District Court – Behavioral Health and Wellness Court (BHWC)
  • BHWC is a specialty mental health court that is grant funded by the State Court Administrative Office and has been in place at the 45th District Court in Oak Park since 2017. This program provides individuals an opportunity to seek treatment, utilize services and resources, and have a team of professionals working with them at all times. Residents of Oakland or Wayne County who have been charged with a non-sexual and non-violent misdemeanor crime, who also have been diagnosed with a mental illness, emotional disturbance, or developmental disability may be eligible.
• 52nd District Court – Mental Health Court
  • The mental health court liaison provides high-level support for individuals during an extremely distressing time.
• 6th Circuit Court – Adult Treatment Court (ATC)
  • ATC is a Hybrid / DWI Court that applies alternative judicial proceedings to chemically abusing and dependent, non-violent, adult felony offenders that have met established eligibility criteria for admittance. The program is voluntary and intensive by design, combining the implementation of evidence-based treatment supports with court-ordered supervision and case management services. ATC aims to rehabilitate, and successfully reintegrate high-risk individuals back into the community with the goal of reducing recidivism and avoiding any unnecessary terms of jail or imprisonment.
• 6th Circuit Court – Juvenile Mental Health / Drug Court
  • Embedded in the 6th Circuit Court, the Youth Mental Health Coordinator works in tandem with the court to provide assessment services, connect to treatment providers, community resources, and to assist youth in improving quality of life.

Jail Based Services

OCHN and the Oakland County Jail have partnered to provide crucial mental health and substance use services for individuals who are incarcerated.

• Mental Health Services: Early screening and identification, psychiatric services funded through OCHN, Medication, Care Coordination and Re-Entry planning are services provided by an embedded multi-disciplinary team.
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT): Recognizing that medication is an adjunct to treatment to aid in a person’s recovery while incarcerated, the MAT program combines individualized treatment planning, recovery coaches, and therapeutic services to address a person’s opiate use disorder and the high rate of overdose upon release from incarceration.
• Jail Alliance With Support (JAWS): A post-booking Jail Diversion program that encourages individuals to engage in mental health treatment and Moral Reconation Therapy groups, funded and implemented through OCHN.

To assist individuals with their transition from the Oakland County Jail into the community, OCHN addresses person’s needs on an individual basis through a team of embedded Liaisons.

For assistance, email reentrysupport@oaklandchn.org

• Rapid Engagement and Access to Community Health (REACH): The REACH Coordinator screens individuals for community based OCHN mental health services, offers support and care coordination, while connecting them to a service provider. The REACH Coordinator remains connected until the first appointment with a provider and assists with removing potential barriers, such as transportation, unstable housing/homelessness.
• Discharge Planning: The Criminal Justice Resource Coordinator offers individual and group discharge planning with a focus on follow-up appointments / linkage to community-based mental health services and resources, including housing, transportation, and shelter. Communication and information sharing with OCHN Providers allows for coordination of on-going services and access to prescriptions at the time of jail discharge.

Since October 2020, over 2,497 individuals (10/1/25) have been assisted through discharge planning. 

Behavioral Health System – Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC)

OCHN provides a web-based referral system that allows Oakland County MDOC Agents to submit referrals for individuals on parole / probation to be screened for Higher Level of Care Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services. A Liaison provides direct assistance to MDOC Agents and individuals served throughout the referral process, while assisting with removing barriers to treatment.