Independent Perspective #1632

Guest:  Rafiq Salim

Topic:  Virtual Community Integration Project at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center

Duration:  05:36

Published:  February 9, 2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today is Rafiq Salim, New York Certified Peer Specialist at Mental Health peer Connection, and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Rafiq.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  As people that have listened to some of our more recent shows are aware, a lot of the outreach of Mental Health peer Connection is being done virtually so that people can still be served from the safety of where they are at the moment, be at home, institution, or whatever. And you have a somewhat unique program that you deal with there, the Community Integration Project, and you serve a rather specialized personnel. How are these people such that they came to be involved in your program; through what channels did they come?

Guest:  Well, they came through referrals, some people come directly, they ask for assistance because they're leaving an institution. This particular program, Community Integration Project meeting that I had at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, came as a result of a request from the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, to work with their population who are confined under the Criminal Procedure Law who are expected to be released to the community within a few years.

Host:  And to clarify what you mean by people there under the Criminal Procedure Law, you mean people that have been judged innocent of a particular crime because of mental defect?

Guest:  That is absolutely correct, the law is Criminal Procedure Law 330.20.

Host:  Well, I'm sure any lawyers or law students will be heading to their reference books to look that up if they don't normally deal with it. So, the people that you serve are there because essentially that's an involuntary sort of involvement with wherever there institutionalized. Can you give us an example of some of the sort of things that may have brought people to your group?

Guest:  Well, if a person commits a crime, what would be considered a crime in the community, and that could run the gambit from assault to some degree of homicide. If the reason that they committed these acts were because of a mental defect, well because of, it's a repackaged, old insanity kind of thinking, they were not competent, they did not really understand what they were doing for mental defect, then they will be judged not guilty by reason of mental defect and they will be confined to a hospital. When the hospital agrees that they are better, they are well, they are mentally sound and not a danger to the community, then the hospital will recommend that they be released. And then the courts will step in again to make a judgment on whether they agree, and the person will be returned to the community.

Host:  So, is this a partnership between you and medical personnel at Buffalo Psychiatric Center or whatever institution to enable the person to be fit to reenter society, you might say?

Guest:  It is not. I do not have any influence or say one way or the other of the decision of the hospital or the courts on whether to release someone. And our services, we’re not, we don't see ourselves as a part of the hospital. We are part of Western New York Independent Living.

Host:  Before we’re totally out of time you said that there is a success story that stands out in your mind that you could sum up without naming names. Could you tell us what you accomplished?

Guest:  There is an individual that spent at least 15, almost 20 years, in the hospital and he was preparing for release, and it was a lot of anxiety around it. And through peer support and his connection, he is now connected with Western New York Independent Living Job Club. He has goals, employment goals, and he chooses to spend the time that he has away from the hospital. While he is about to exit the hospital, he's choosing to spend that very important time at Western New York Independent Living because he thinks we can help him become successful in the community.

Host:  That certainly sounds like the appropriate step. In the moments we have left, I'm sure that there will be people with questions. How can they get in touch with you?

Guest:  They can call 836-0822 and ask for Rafiq.

Host:  Terrific, thanks so much for being with us today.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie, and take care.

Host:  You too. You’ve been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today was Rafiq Salim, New York Certified Peer Specialist at Mental Health PEER Connection. And your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.