CMS Behavioral Health Director to Present at Correctional Mental Health Conferences

ST. LOUIS, MO, March 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) Mark C. Fleming, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health Services - Correctional Medical Services, Inc. (CMS), will present at both the Mental Health in Corrections Conference (MHCC) in Chicago and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) Updates in Correctional Health Care conference in Phoenix. CMS is the nation's leading provider of correctional healthcare services.

At the MHCC 2011 Conference, Fleming will conduct a workshop entitled "Behavioral Health Challenges and Solutions for Prisoner Reentry." The presentation will increase participants' abilities to comprehend and identify the prevalence of offenders discharged with severe mental illness, such as psychosis and Bipolar Disorder, as well as the co-morbidity of serious mental disorders with drug addiction. In addition, Fleming will explore barriers to successful reentry and best practice approaches for effective monitoring and follow up.

"Successful reentry into society for inmates with mental illnesses is fraught with challenges," said Dr. Mark Fleming, PhD. "My presentation will enable correctional professionals to better understand severe mental illness among inmates, to recognize barriers to reentry and to employ methods for establishing links in the community for successful follow up."

Fleming will also present at the NCCHC Updates in Correctional Health Care conference in Phoenix. The presentation is entitled, "Infusing Multi-Cultural Awareness into Correctional Mental Health." The workshop is designed to help correctional mental health staff integrate cultural markers such as race, gender identity and sexual identity into successful strategies for better delivery of mental health services.

"My presentation at the NCCHC Updates conference will help clinicians better understand how cultural context affects their patients as well as themselves," noted Fleming. "The workshop will show clinicians how to begin the process of creating a multi-culturally aware mental health program."

The MHCC 2011 Conference takes place April 19-20 in Chicago, Ill. In addition, the NCCHC Updates conference occurs May 21-24 in Phoenix, Ariz.

About Correctional Medical Services, Inc (CMS)
Correctional Medical Services, Inc. (CMS), a national leader in correctional healthcare services, provides comprehensive, accountable, cost-effective services to correctional systems. CMS delivers a full suite of medical, dental, pharmacy and mental health services to nearly 280,000 incarcerated individuals in 19 states. Learn more at http://www.cmsstl.com.