Community Support Advocates (Team CSA) provides new program for individuals found incompetent to stand trial
(Des Moines, IA) – 
The Polk County Mental Health and Disability Services Region recently awarded its Outpatient Competency Restoration (OCR) contract to Community Support Advocates (Team CSA). Team CSA will provide mental health support, substance use treatment services, and educational outreach for individuals found incompetent to stand trial.
Currently, if a person with a significant mental illness or disability is found incompetent they can remain in jail for months while waiting for treatment. The Department of Corrections has limited capacity for competency restoration treatment, making it a bottleneck that frequently causes lengthy case delays.
Transforming the way individuals with mental illness experience the justice system
- This is a new program for Iowa. Iowa Health and Human Services has determined this to be a significant issue and designated it a core service. As The Polk County Mental Health and Disability Services Region provider Team CSA will provide the service to the entire state.
Outpatient Competency Restoration allows individuals who are non violent to be released from jail and receive treatment within their own homes or at another support facility.
Team CSA’s CEO and President Christina Smith explains, “Currently a person’s competency often worsens, or decompensates, while in jail, and away from their support network and treatment regimen. This can quickly compound the situation. For example, someone could also lose their insurance, employment, and housing while waiting for competency treatment. This program gives people access to restoration treatment earlier so they have a much better outcome. Our clinical team works with their established support network and medical team throughout the competency restoration process, and beyond. The goal is to not only get them competent to stand trial for their offense, but to also keep these vulnerable individuals competent and out of the criminal justice system.”
Team CSA’s expansion enables them to provide this new service program. The local nonprofit organization recently added an Integrated Behavioral Health Clinic with plans to grow it in their new location at 1516 Valley West Drive in West Des Moines, which is slated to open later this year.
About Community Support Advocates (Team CSA)
For 25 years Team CSA has dedicated itself to the most vulnerable members of our communities, serving individuals and families impacted by disabilities, mental health issues, and traumatic brain injury. With our community in crisis, we are leaning into our expertise to write a new chapter for Team CSA and behavioral health services in Central Iowa. We provide our members with access to integrated health options that build their independence, and keep them healthy, safe and connected to community. Learn more at teamcsa.org.