Robert J. Powitzky, Ph.D., Chief Mental Health Officer
2901 N. Classen Blvd. Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73106-5493
(405) 962-6138
FAX: (405) 962-6150
robert.powitzky@doc.state.ok.us
2012 National Zarrow Mental Health Symposium &
Mental Health America Annual Conference
Collaborating for Success in Interagency
Correctional Mental Health Reentry
Administrator of Mental Health Operations
(405) 962-6137
bob.mann@doc.state.ok.us
Secretary V
(405) 962-6156
liz.janway@doc.state.ok.us
Mission:
The Mental Health Services Unit promotes recovery for offenders with serious
illness, developmental disabilities, and/or co-occurring disorders in an
efficient, organized, yet humane manner through competent, necessary integrated
screening, evaluation and treatment services; contributes to correctional
and public safety through staff consultation and training; and, where possible,
provides life-changing interventions to other inmates with drug/alcohol addictions
and/or behavioral or personality disorders who are motivated to becoming
productive citizens.
Brief Overview:
The Oklahoma DOC mental health services encompass the entire spectrum of care,
including screening/ assessment; crisis intervention; co-occurring disorder
treatment; suicide prevention; appropriate levels of outpatient, intermediate,
and acute/inpatient mental health services; and reentry, pre-discharge planning/preparation.
Mental health professionals include psychiatrists and advanced practice psychiatric
nurses, psychologists, masters-level clinicians, and social workers. They are
also provided medication distribution services by the Medical Services Unit’s
nurses and pharmacists.
ODOC has developed a recovery model of mental health services that provides
an integrated system of mental health care aligned with good correctional management
designed to empower offenders with mental illness to attain each individual's
maximum level of crime-free employment, self-care, interpersonal relationships,
and community participation.
To achieve effective, cost-efficient mental health services, ODOC utilizes
a unique mental health management classification information system that provides
a concentration of staffing and designated housing for those inmates with the
most serious mental illness in the least restrictive conditions that promote
individual recovery and resilience while protecting the public. To provide
concentrated services, specialized designated housing units have been established
at three facilities. The more acute, inpatient care is provided on Mental Health
Units (MHUs). Intermediate care and specialized reentry services are provided
on Intermediate Care Housing Units (ICHUs). However, approximately 95% of offenders
with mental illness are treated on an outpatient basis in the general population
housing settings.
The reader is referred to the reports linked below for more detailed discussions
of ODOC mental health services.
Update on the Oklahoma DOC Mental Health Services and MH-Levels Classification System
Deinstitutionalization to Reinstitutionalization- Correctional Mental Health Services
