The 2023 challenge was to create an innovative program or intervention that would improve outcomes for those who have been or would likely be petitioned for involuntary commitment. DHS dedicated significant resources to understanding more about the existing involuntary commitment and hospitalization process and outcomes for individuals who become the subject of a petition for involuntary hospitalization. DHS found that many individuals who are involuntarily hospitalized have poor outcomes — such as higher mortality rates, criminal justice involvement and emergency room usage after involuntary hospitalization — compared to other high-risk populations. Teams were asked to create a solution that would either reduce the risk of someone being petitioned, examined or hospitalized; improve the experience of petitioning, examination or hospitalization for anyone involved in the process; or providing support upon release from examination or hospitalization. Fifty-five graduate students comprising 16 teams participated in the 2023 competition, with six teams moving to the finals and three teams winning a cash prize.
Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2023 Local Government Case Competition!
1st Place: Allegheny County Continuous Immigrant Support Services (ACCISS2) Mental Health Program
ACCISS2’s goal is to increase access to mental health information for immigrant communities, increase community engagement in mental health services and reduce rates of involuntary commitments within the immigrant community. ACCISS2 would provide immigrants with vital information about mental and behavioral health by providing telehealth and online chat services and establishing in-person education in community spaces. The program would use culturally competent liaisons to create easy-to-understand content.
Team Members:
- Aakriti Kumar, University of Pittsburgh, Public and International Affairs, Human Security, and Security and Intelligence Studies
- Josh Kirkpatrick, Duquesne University, Law
- Eder Hernandez, Carnegie Mellon University, Public Policy and Management
2nd Place: Caring to Commit: Advocates for Enhanced Support in Involuntary Commitments
Caring to Commit would utilize trained professionals and student interns to begin working with a subject of a petition as early as possible. The role of advocates would be to communicate with the individual and to share information with physicians, judges, law enforcement and family members from initial petition through post-discharge. The advocate would utilize a person-centered approach, placing an emphasis on an individual’s wellbeing and choices over anything else.
Team Members:
- Goutam Mukku, Carnegie Mellon University, Information Systems Management
- Dorothy Yam, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Medicine
- Sommer Blair, University of Pittsburgh, Social Work
3rd Place: Support Central, A Program to Support Caregivers
Support Central would connect caregivers of individuals with serious mental illness with available supports to create a plan to prepare for a potential mental health crisis. The team suggested two tools that could be used by caregivers: A Green-Yellow-Red framework and a Care-and-Needs card. The Green-Yellow-Red framework would provide caregivers with resources depending on the mental health needs of their loved one. The Care-and-Needs card would be a physical or electronic card that would store information about the individual, including preferred name and pronouns, responders with whom they have a positive relationship, and a list of interventions/activities that calm down or agitate the individual.
Team Members:
- Shambhavi Bhushan, Carnegie Mellon University, Public Policy & Management and Data Analytics
- Zena Kesselman, University of Pittsburgh, Public & International Affairs and Business Administration
- Caldwell Linker, Penn West University, Social Work