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Building a Healthier, Safer Community Through Justice and Mental Health Collaboration
The Yavapai Justice & Mental Health Coalition is a collaborative partnership dedicated to building a healthier, safer community through cross-system efforts addressing behavioral health and justice system intersections. Our coalition prioritizes reducing justice system involvement for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders by enhancing access to treatment, fostering partnerships between agencies, and implementing evidence-based practices. With over two decades of combined experience among our leadership, we focus on systemic change through strategic initiatives like the Reach Out Program, which has reduced jail populations while improving community outcomes.Our team includes experts in law enforcement, behavioral health, and social services who work to create sustainable solutions for vulnerable populations. As a trusted community leader, we emphasize transparency in operations, client-centered approaches, and adherence to ethical standards. Our work includes crisis intervention training, pretrial diversion programs, and suicide prevention initiatives that demonstrate our commitment to public safety and mental health equity.
Services
Crisis Intervention
Involuntary Evaluation
Pretrial Diversion
Suicide Prevention
Community Resource Referral
Mental Health Training
Youth Behavioral Health
Reentry Support
Policy Advocacy
Data Analysis
Highlights and features
- We implement evidence-based cross-system collaboration to reduce justice system involvement for mental health cases
- Our coalition includes 40+ years of combined law enforcement experience in behavioral health crisis response
- We provide 24/7 crisis intervention services and mobile outreach teams
- Our Reach Out Program has reduced jail populations while improving treatment access since 2017
- We offer specialized training programs for law enforcement and school personnel in mental health recognition
Services
Crisis Intervention
Our 24/7 crisis intervention teams provide immediate support for behavioral health emergencies. Trained professionals de-escalate situations and connect individuals with appropriate treatment instead of incarceration. This service reduces jail admissions while ensuring safety for both individuals and communities through mobile outreach and hotline support.
Involuntary Evaluation
We facilitate court-ordered mental health evaluations and treatment under Arizona law. Our process ensures individuals with severe mental illness receive necessary care through legal frameworks while protecting patient rights. This includes emergency admissions and follow-up treatment coordination with healthcare providers.
Pretrial Diversion
This program redirects low-level offenders with substance abuse issues to treatment instead of traditional prosecution. Participants complete evidence-based programs to address root causes of criminal behavior, reducing recidivism while conserving judicial resources through rehabilitation-focused alternatives to incarceration.
Suicide Prevention
Our suicide prevention coalition coordinates community-wide efforts to reduce suicide rates. Services include ASIST training, crisis hotlines, and stigma-reduction campaigns. We connect at-risk individuals with mental health resources while educating providers and community members about warning signs and intervention strategies.
Community Resource Referral
We maintain comprehensive directories linking residents to mental health, housing, and employment services. Our referral system helps individuals navigate complex behavioral health and social service networks, ensuring seamless access to treatment programs and community support resources.
People
Beya Thayer
Executive Director
With over 25 years in social services and a Master's in Social Work, Beya Thayer leads coalition efforts to improve justice-mental health collaboration. She develops systemic strategies for sustainable partnerships across Arizona's behavioral health and criminal justice systems.
David Rhodes
Sheriff, Yavapai County
Sheriff David Rhodes brings decades of law enforcement experience to the coalition, focusing on crisis response protocols and jail population reduction strategies. He advocates for mental health diversion programs that improve public safety outcomes through treatment rather than incarceration.
Audrey Dorfman
Community Member
Audrey Dorfman contributes community advocacy expertise, emphasizing evidence-based practices and data-driven evaluations. She works to expand access to mental health care for justice-involved individuals while promoting policy changes that support treatment diversion outcomes.
Tamara Player
Chief Executive Officer, Polara Health
As Polara Health CEO, Tamara Player oversees mental health service delivery for the coalition. With extensive behavioral health leadership experience, she ensures quality crisis stabilization services and coordinates involuntary evaluation processes across Yavapai County.
Leslie Horton
Director, Yavapai Community Health Services
Leslie Horton directs community health initiatives that integrate mental health services with broader healthcare access. She focuses on holistic treatment approaches that address both behavioral health needs and overall wellness for justice-involved populations.
Questions
How can I get involved with the coalition's efforts?
Contact us through our website or email to learn about partnership opportunities, community meetings, and volunteer programs that support our justice-mental health initiatives.
What crisis services are available in Yavapai County?
Call 988 for 24/7 crisis intervention, mobile outreach teams, or visit Polara Health's Crisis Stabilization Unit for immediate mental health support and evaluation services.
How does the involuntary evaluation process work?
Submit an application to Polara Health with supporting documentation. If approved, the court may order evaluation and treatment under Arizona's Title 36 statutes for individuals refusing voluntary care.
What pretrial diversion programs exist?
Our pretrial diversion program offers substance abuse treatment alternatives to prosecution for eligible offenders, focusing on rehabilitation through evidence-based education and recovery programs.
How does the coalition measure its impact?
We track outcomes like reduced jail populations, improved treatment access, and cost savings through annual reports that show our Reach Out Program's $1.2M savings to Yavapai County since 2017.
What mental health training programs are available?
We offer Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), and ASIST workshops for law enforcement, school personnel, and community members across Yavapai County.
