ROCKWALL —
Lt. Todd Calkins’ efforts in helping to establish the Rockwall County Jail Behavioral Health Advisory Committee is earning local and national recognition.
In November, Calkins was selected as the recipient of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Dallas Chapter 2011 Crisis Intervention Training Excellence in Law Enforcement Award.
And just recently, the jail lieutenant’s accomplishments were documented and submitted to the National Sheriff’s Association. During the NSA mid-winter conference in Washington, D.C., the awards committee selected Calkins to receive the first-ever Corrections/Jail Innovation of the Year Award.
The award will be presented to Calkins at the NSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Nashville, Tenn., June 18.
In October of 2009, Calkins attended the second class of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy in Huntsville. The academy’s curriculum required each participant to present an issue they had with the operation of their facility. Calkins’ issue presented to the class was the lack of mental health services for inmates in the county facility.
After receiving direction from some of his classmates and instructors, Calkins contacted the National Alliance on Mental Illness Dallas chapter. The National Alliance on Mental Illness contacted Dr. Vincent Ramos, a forensic psychologist with Argosy University in Dallas.
Ramos and Calkins met and discussed the needs of the inmate jail population. Ramos’ services are paid using commissary funds allowed by Texas Law and have no additional impact on the annual jail budget.
In February of 2010, weekly eight-hour therapy and counseling services began under the direction of Ramos. Students from Argosy University serve as interns at the facility to complete their master’s degree. The intern program gives detention officers options when inmates ask for mental health treatment during incarceration other than requiring a trip to the psych emergency room for treatment.
In March of 2010, the Rockwall County Jail Mental Health steering committee was established. Service providers were invited to the first meeting in March and are asked to serve as members. Bi-weekly meetings were established.
Current members are the Rockwall district attorney, adult probation, juvenile probation, North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, Green Oaks Hospital, Transicare, Lakes Regional Hospital and Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office.
Jail services now include therapy and case management and establishing a mental health court with government grants. The committee’s vision has expanded beyond the jail to include training for the law enforcement community.
In August 2011, 36 officers completed the Mental Health Peace Officer’s course at no cost to the agencies, along with mental health services for the civilian community of Rockwall County.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Lt. Todd Calkins was nominated for the Correctional/Jail Innovation award by the National Sheriffs’ Associates. James Bright / Herald-Banner
Discussion
Local officer earns recognition for county jail program
- Local News
-
-
Car-motorcycle wreck claims life of Rockwall man
A 54-year-old Rockwall man died Monday night after his small motorcycle collided with a car on an Interstate 30 service road in Royse City.
-
Heath citizen questions May 12 election legitimacy
A citizen of Heath has filed a complaint with the Secretary of State over the conduct of one of the city council candidate’s actions on election day and confusion over ballots.
-
Rockwall EDC brings Bimbo Bakeries to Technology Park
The Rockwall Economic Development Corporation has brought another great deal to Rockwall with Bimbo Bakeries USA, the largest bakery company in the USA. Bimbo will build a 300,000-square-foot bakery facility in the Rockwall Technology Park. The facility will be located between Discovery Boulevard, Data Drive and Springer Road in Phase II of the Rockwall Technology Park, located just south of Interstate 30 in Rockwall. The bakery is the largest new industrial build-to-suit project in the history of Rockwall.
-
Branding Royse City is topic of city council presentation
City officials have taken a first step that could lead to branding Royse City.
That first step involved city council members listening to a presentation by Larry Lott, executive director of the Royse City Economic Development Corporation, during a May 8 city council meeting. -
Tornado cleanup could continue with ‘day of volunteering’
Organizers who still are involved in tornado relief efforts in the Royse City area soon may issue a plea for volunteers to help pick up debris that covers a large area.
-
County election debates to be held May 14
The second of two GOP debates will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Rockwall High School cafeteria May 14.
-
VIDEO: ELECTION RESULTS
This video will give you comprehensive coverage on the details of the May 12 elections.
-
Rockwall looks to host multiple triathlons
The council members of the Rockwall City Council are more used to running campaigns than triathlons, however, at the March 7 meeting they made steps toward allowing two triathlons in the city of Rockwall.
-
Philip Rodriguez is new Fate city manager
Van Alstyne City Manager Philip Rodriguez will begin new duties on May 29 as Fate city manager.
-
Hunt County could join RHP, court approves help for some inmates
In a brief May 8 meeting the Rockwall County Commissioners worked through for a variety of topics discussed in previous workshop sessions.
Precinct Three Commissioner Dennis Bailey updated the court on the progress of Rockwall’s regional health partnership (RHP).
“I spoke with our counterparts in Collin County and they don’t know of anything new that is going on,” he said. - More Local News Headlines
-
Car-motorcycle wreck claims life of Rockwall man
Postal Service to Begin Closing Plants Soon
Witness: Moose in Utah 'Just Running Around'
Census: Minorities Now Surpass Whites in Births
Facebook IPO: What You Need to Know
Selig: Oakland Move Might Be Considered
Disco Queen Donna Summer Dies at 63
Verizon to End Unlimited Data Plans
New Mom Contracts Flesh-eating Bacteria
Georgia School Buses Escorted After Threat
Lady Antebellum Plays Prom in Tornado-hit Town
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Wife Found Dead
GM Says It Will Stop Paying for Ads on Facebook
Jury Convicts Steve Powell of Voyeurism Charges
Skechers to Pay $40 Million for Bogus Claims
Coffee May Be Key to Living Longer
Police to Groom of Slain Bride: Turn Yourself In
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
FBI Confirms Leak Probe on Al-Qaida Plot
Honda Unveils New Robotics-powered Scooter
NJ Gov., Mayor Channel Seinfeld in Video Parody
