Strategies for Cross-System Collaboration to Improve Outcomes for People with Mental Illness

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Ashlee Barnes currently serves as the Behavioral Health Administrator for the NC Department of Adult Correction, Division of Community Supervision, where she oversees the development and implementation of the statewide Specialty Mental Health Supervision program. Ashlee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina and began her career in 2012 working within prison institutions where she served in a variety of direct care and administrative roles, including the Americans with Disabilities Act Program Coordinator and the Social Work Program Director. In addition to correctional settings, Ashlee has delivered mental health treatment in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, integrated community health center, and VA Hospital. She graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with a Master of Social Work degree and Substance Abuse Treatment Certificate in 2012 and achieved full licensure as an LCSW in 2016. Ashlee has experience working directly with NC Specialty Mental Health Supervision Probation/Parole Officers and Chief Probation/Parole Officers during her time as a Licensed Mental Health Professional for the North Carolina Division of Community Supervision. She is passionate about ensuring that justice-involved individuals with serious mental illnesses are afforded access to services needed to promote successful reentry to the community and achieve positive community supervision outcomes.

Taiona Davis is a criminal justice professional specializing in mental health within the justice system. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she currently serves in Guilford County, North Carolina, as a Mental Health Probation/Parole Officer with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. She earned her bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in criminal science from Point Park University. Taiona’s career has led her to serve in several impactful roles, including Community Support Specialist with Community Human Services in Pittsburgh, focusing on care coordination, Justice-Related Services (JRS) for behavioral health and as a specialist for programs such as Mental Health Court, Drug Court, and DUI Court, focusing on redirecting individuals from jail to community treatment; particularly for those with co-occurring disorders. Taiona has also served as a Service Coordinator at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, supporting individuals with mental health needs, including children and adolescents. In her current role, Taiona works closely with individuals with mental health diagnoses, completing assessments, case planning, and connecting justice-involved individuals to resources that support successful supervision and treatment. She is passionate about bridging the gap between the justice system and mental health treatment to promote positive outcomes, long-term stability and reducing recidivism.

Amber Livengood currently serves as the Behavioral Health Supervisor for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Division of Community Supervision. In this role, she oversees licensed mental health professionals who support the statewide Specialty Mental Health Supervision program. She began her career within North Carolina’s correctional system in residential substance use treatment, later serving as a case manager in the prison system. She then transitioned to inpatient treatment, where she worked in both acute care and residential units with individuals experiencing substance use disorders and high-acuity mental health needs. She subsequently served as a Licensed Mental Health Professional within the Division of Community Supervision. Amber holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Western Carolina University. She maintains credentials as a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS).

Tonya B. Van Deinse is a research associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work in the United States. Dr. Van Deinse and her research team, the Health Interventions in the Legal System Lab, focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of complex and inter-organizational interventions that span systems, particularly the behavioral health and criminal justice systems. Dr. Van Deinse started her work in mental health 22 years ago in private residential treatment with adults with severe mental illnesses and then later worked in the public mental health system where she began to work with adults in the criminal justice system. Today, Dr. Van Deinse uses implementation science methods to design, implement, and evaluate programs at the interface of behavioral health and legal systems.