Journal News, Hamilton Ohio: Probate court model for others 6 28 02

Zdanowicz said she was also impressed with how [Judge] Rogers has spearheaded the effort to provide better service to the mentally ill through his court. "Sadly some judges don't want to deal with these cases. It takes a real heart commitment to do it," she said.

HAMILTON. Butler County Probate Court gained national attention Thursday for its innovative approaches to handling mental health issues.

Every day the court deals with difficult issues. How to handle a case in which a mentally ill person is starving himself to death? Should you commit someone who has become a nuisance to her neighbors, but doesn't pose a physical threat? What do you do with people who don't think they need help?

The way the probate court handles these and other issues has a national treatment advocacy center wanting to use the court as a model for other communities.

Mary Zdanowicz, founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national organization based in Arlington, Va., spent the day Thursday with probate court Judge Randy Rogers and several of his staff exploring the ins and outs of what she said was a unique and inspirational way of conducting business.

"It is astonishing to me, and uplifting that there is such a focus (in Butler County) on the truly under-served population," Zdanowicz said.

Among the functions of probate court are civil commitments - providing treatment for mentally ill clients who are unable to handle their own affairs - and guardianship - providing "guardians" to handle the needs of the mentally ill, mentally disabled or elderly.

The court utilizes numerous agencies and resources to determine the treatment people need, then gets it for them. Zdanowicz said the cooperation among the different groups - the court, the sheriff's office, the hospital doctors, the Crisis and Probate Service (CAPS), and the Butler County Mental Health Board and LifeSpan - is "exceptional."

"The biggest problem in the mental illness treatment field has been fragmentation, a lack of coordination. Here I see an extraordinary integration of the court, treatment programs, the community and the local government," she said.

Zdanowicz said she was also impressed with how Rogers has spearheaded the effort to provide better service to the mentally ill through his court.

"Sadly some judges don't want to deal with these cases. It takes a real heart commitment to do it," she said.

Rogers said he was "honored" that Zdanowicz wanted to visit his court and said being so involved is all part of his duty as a judge.