Local mental health advocates to hold forum on adjusting to life after jail

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Thurston/Mason County (NAMI) will hold a public online forum entitled, “Challenges After Jail: Services in Thurston County,” on Thursday, April 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

In the last of its three Justice Not Jails (JnJ) series, the discussion will focus on educating the public about people with mental illness who have been incarcerated and the services available to them “to help them recover their lives after being involved in the justice system,” according to the group’s press release.

Speakers and their topics will include:

• Carrie Hennen, Program Manager, Thurston County Treatment Sales Tax; Moderator
• Maria Gallo, Social Services Specialist, Thurston County Public Defense; Referrals
• Korbett Mosesly, Director of Workforce Services, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council; Employment
• Keylee Marineau, Thurston County Homeless & Affordable Housing Coordinator; Housing
• Dr. Matlock, Free Clinic/Mental Health Access Program; Treatment 
• Kelly Olson, Civil Survival; Personal Experience

Lecturers during the forum will provide input on their respective programs and the challenges they face, discuss the impact of recent developments in the legal system, and the possibility of racial and ethnic disparities.

According to its website, JnJ was founded in 2013 and lobbies local governments, educates the public, and conducts projects that aim to help people involved in the justice system.

Community members interested in attending the seminar can register in advance and also watch the previous two meetings “on Justice Innovation and Racial Equity in Thurston County” and “The Fallacy of Public Safety and Mass Incarceration” on this link.