Court Advocacy
About Our Court Advocacy
Assisted Outpatient Treatment
NAMI Richland County serves on the advisory team for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program, which provides court-ordered mental health treatment in the community for individuals with severe mental illness who struggle to stay engaged in care. AOT aims to promote stability, reduce hospitalizations and incarcerations, and support recovery through structured treatment and supervision. As part of the advisory team, NAMI offers the perspective of individuals and families with lived experience, advocates for person-centered, recovery-oriented approaches, and helps ensure participants are treated with dignity and connected to vital resources.
Crisis Intervention Team Advisory
NAMI Richland County participates in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Advisory to improve the community response to mental health crises. By collaborating with law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community partners, we help guide training efforts, provide lived-experience perspectives, and advocate for compassionate, trauma-informed approaches. Our goal is to ensure individuals in crisis are met with understanding, appropriate care, and connection to ongoing support.
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Behavioral Health Court Advocacy
NAMI Richland County partners with Mansfield Municipal Court’s Behavioral Health Court to provide advocacy and support for individuals navigating mental health challenges within the justice system. Someone from our team attends court sessions twice a month to offer mental health resources, peer support, and education to participants, families, and anyone in attendance.
By promoting understanding, reducing stigma, and connecting individuals to community services, we help support recovery and encourage positive outcomes both in court and in daily life.
