Services | Community Forensic

Our Forensic Mental Health Programs

Our programs are designed for professionals and agencies committed to transforming the way communities respond to serious mental illness within the criminal legal system. Rooted in decades of clinical innovation and research by Dr. J. Steven Lamberti and Dr. Robert L. Weisman at the University of Rochester, these offerings provide practical frameworks, training, and consultation to support more effective, humane, and collaborative approaches. Whether you're starting a FACT team, working in corrections, managing community-based services, or shaping policy, our programs equip you with the tools to drive meaningful change at the intersection of mental health and justice.

Course

FACT Training and Technical Assistance

We provide hands-on training and technical support for communities seeking to launch or enhance Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) programs using the Rochester model. Our process includes a mix of on-site interactive workshops, teleconferences, and rich instructional materials to guide teams through development, implementation, and evaluation. Whether you're building from scratch or improving an existing program, our training ensures fidelity, stakeholder engagement, and outcome-driven service delivery.

Key Focus Areas:

FACT vs. ACT: Understanding the difference
Stakeholder engagement strategies
Criminogenic risk integration
Cross-system collaboration
Trauma-informed practices
Monitoring fidelity & outcomes

Forensic Awareness and Skills Training (FAST)

FAST is a 1-day intensive training program designed to equip professionals with the skills needed to support justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness. Designed for mental health providers, peer support workers, and criminal justice staff, this workshop offers practical strategies for assessment, safety, engagement, and cross-system collaboration. Follow-up webinars extend the learning, creating a supportive space for knowledge sharing and skill reinforcement.

Training Includes:

Violence risk identification
Engagement strategies for high-risk individuals
Collaborative care in justice settings
Trauma-informed, recovery-oriented approaches

Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) Training

SAVE is a specialized training focused on preventing workplace violence among community-based mental health and justice professionals. It prepares staff to recognize early warning signs, de-escalate crises, and apply practical safety strategies in real-world settings. The program helps agencies foster safer work environments while reducing stigma and improving morale.

Training Outcomes:

Understanding risk factors for violence
Recognizing behavioral warning signs
Practicing de-escalation and crisis intervention
Conducting incident debriefings
Promoting staff confidence and retention

General Consultation Services

We offer tailored consultation services to county, state, and federal agencies focused on improving systems of care for justice-involved adults with serious mental illness. From program development and evaluation to stakeholder engagement and cross-sector collaboration, our consulting helps organizations build safer, more responsive, and person-centered service systems.

Consultation Areas:

FACT program development
Trauma-informed system design
Legal-clinical role balancing
Cross-systems collaboration
Policy guidance and implementation strategies

Introduction to Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (Online Course)

This six-part virtual course introduces the foundational concepts of FACT to professionals and organizations interested in improving the care of people with serious mental illness in the criminal legal system. Taught by national experts Dr. Lamberti and Dr. Weisman, this course covers everything from FACT origins to program design and operation – perfect for those new to the model or seeking further guidance.

Course Topics Include:

What is FACT?
Essential elements of FACT
Who should FACT teams enroll?
Building effective FACT partnerships
What research shows about FACT effectiveness