PINELLAS COUNTY, Florida – A Jail Diversion partnership with the Pinellas County The Office of the Public Defender of the Sixth Circuit Court and the JFCS of the Gulf Coast helps nonviolent referrals that would be best served in a community setting.
Those accepted into the diversion program receive treatment at the Adele Gilbert Residential Treatment Center in Pasco County. It is for adults who have a diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse problems.
“We are unique in that we focus on mental health first,” said Spencer Hammelman, the residential director. “A lot of programs in the area focus on substance abuse as the main issue, but we do the opposite. And we have a treatment team model here as well.”
The program accepts 50 to 75 patients each year. One of the current residents is Ehren, who made a decision that gave him an arrest record last year. However, the staff said that only a month after treating him, and he is already making great strides.
“Really, for the first time, probably in any health care situation, I feel like I’ve been heard,” Ehren said.
You are receiving individual counseling while learning coping and life skills.
“We tend to have one-size-fits-all solutions for all sorts of things in our health care and everything and in just society, in general. We’re all individuals though, and, you know, we have to approach things more individually,” Ehren said.
The Adele Gilbert program helps build confidence and teaches residents ways to thrive after completing their in-house treatment.
“Once they believe in themselves and see that they’re capable of doing things that maybe other people said they couldn’t or wouldn’t do or shouldn’t do, that’s when you see the light go out and that’s when success happens,” said Aramiz González, program manager.
It is a 90-day referral-based program, but participants receive comprehensive services after completion.
For other behavioral health treatment programs offered by Gulf Coast JFCS, visit: https://gulfcoastjewishfamilyandcommunityservices.org/
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