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The University of Washington’s Center for Mental Health, Policy, and the Law is pleased to host a virtual speaker series on civil commitment. Civil commitment, or involuntary commitment, is a legal intervention by which a person with serious mental illness, or other criteria, may be ordered to a psychiatric hospital or receive supervised outpatient treatment for some period of time. Recent changes in the laws governing civil commitment across the country have fueled the longstanding debate about the role of civil commitment, understanding the balance between ensuring public welfare and protecting one’s civil liberties, and providing quality health care services within the mental health care continuum.
This series brings together an array of experts, including clinicians, legal professionals, educators, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience. The speakers will provide foundational as well as advanced content on civil commitment laws and processes, ethical considerations, and clinical practices for caring for persons with mental illness.
All are welcome to attend. The series is intended to be useful to both professional and community audiences.
Participants may attend one session or the entire series.
The University of Washington is an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, chemical dependency professionals, nurses and physicians under the provisions of: WAC 246-809-610, WAC 246-809-620, WAC 246-811-200, WAC 246-840-210, WAC 246-919-460 and WAC 246-924-240.
Series itinerary
More information to follow.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
“Civil Commitment 101: Overview of History and Current Practices”
Shadoe Jones, JD, will provide a foundation on the history of civil commitment and its evolution in the United States. This presentation will address the historical evolution and current practices of civil commitment, highlighting how these systems have changed in response to advances in psychiatry and medicine, shifting social attitudes, and changes in economic policies. Jones will review current civil commitment procedures nationwide and examine how Washington state’s approach compares with other states, offering a critical perspective on this complex and evolving intersection of law and healthcare.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the development of and changes in civil commitment practices.
- Identify the current civil commitment procedures and standards implemented across the United States, including variations and commonalities.
- Analyze how civil commitment practices in Washington state differ from and align with those in other states
Shadoe Jones, JD, advises on key policy considerations, collaborates with legislative partners, and provides legal counsel to advocate for the improvement of state and federal laws and systems of care to benefit individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) with the Treatment Advocacy Center. Previously, Jones served as a criminal defense attorney for those with SMI in Arizona. She advocated for resolutions that acknowledged the role of SMI, included treatment, and mitigated the impact of criminal charges on the individual’s future and access to benefits. Jones has been active in grassroots efforts to reduce barriers to treatment and the criminalization of SMI within Arizona. Jones received her juris doctor from Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Delaware.
Friday, December 13, 2024, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
“Civil Commitment Through the Ethics Lens: How We Got Here”
View Zoom link. Please note, this is the only session that does not require registration. If you are interested in continuing education, fill out this form.
Philip Candilis, MD, will present the Bruce Gage Lecture in Forensic Mental Health, included in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Grand Rounds series. This talk will trace themes of ethics, policy, and social justice through the evolution of civil commitment in the U.S.
Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Dawn Macready-Santos, LICSW, DCR, and Laura Pippin, MSP, SUDPT, DCR, co-presidents of the Washington Association for Designated Crisis Responders, will present on practical aspects of civil commitment in Washington state for adults with mental illness. They will give an overview of commitment criteria, the role of designated crisis responders, assisted outpatient treatment, Joel’s Law, Ricky’s Law, and utilization of mobile crisis teams.
Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Laura Van Tosh, Karen Schilde, and Carolynn Ponzoha, advocates who have lived experience of being civilly committed, will spend a session detailing aspects of their experience with civil commitment and the broader mental health care continuum.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Sarah Kopelovich, PhD, ABPP, will review her partnership with the State of Washington to enhance the quality and continuity of psychotherapeutic care for Washingtonians who are receiving inpatient services under the Involuntary Commitment Act.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Dawn Macready-Santos, LICSW, will provide details about youth commitment in Washington state, including an overview of the commitment process, how it differs from adult commitment, and challenges with youth civil commitment.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Senator Manka Dhingra, JD, will discuss the shifting policy landscape, recent impetus and changes to the Washington State Involuntary Treatment Act, and evaluation and reform of civil commitment from the perspective of policymakers.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
A panel of speakers from previous sessions will conclude the series. This panel will provide an opportunity to review the ways in which each facet of civil commitment interacts within the broader mental health system and to address questions raised during the course of the series.
Learning objectives
- Understand the origins and development of civil commitment in the U.S.
- Become familiar with the standards and processes for civil commitment in Washington state
- Recognize ethical considerations in civil commitment
- Appreciate clinical guides and services in the treatment of persons with mental illness who are involved in civil commitment
- Understand common scenarios encountered by persons with lived experience with civil commitment
- Become familiar with policy considerations in the evaluation, implementation, and reform of civil commitment.
Continuing education
The University of Washington is an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, chemical dependency professionals, nurses and physicians under the provisions of: WAC 246-809-610, WAC 246-809-620, WAC 246-811-200, WAC 246-840-210, WAC 246-919-460 and WAC 246-924-240.
Accreditation with Commendation: The University of Washington School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation: The University of Washington School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. (Each session is worth 1 credit)