Mental Health Law and Policy

Catalog description

This class will explore laws and policies that affect the rights and welfare of individuals with mental disabilities, including severe mental illness (SMI) and intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). Representative topics include civil commitment (involuntary hospitalization), forced outpatient treatment, and mental health conservatorship; California's Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act; neurodiversity; the treatment of people with SMI and I/DD in the criminal justice system; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA); and mental health parity reform. A diverse array of knowledgeable stakeholders--clinicians, judges, attorneys, activists, individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities, and family members--will join us as guest speakers to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the current system and discuss possible avenues for reform. The course will be graded on an MP/R/F basis. Elements used in grading: Class Attendance, Class Participation, Written Assignments. Special Instructions: ADD/DROP DECISIONS MUST BE MADE BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE QUARTER.