Correctional Mental Health Program Consultant Steven Helfand

Dr. Steven J. Helfand, PsyD, is a licensed Psychologist with over 25 years of direct Correctional Mental Health and Health Leadership experience. He has overseen the mental health and health service delivery in over 50 small, mid-size, and large scale jail, prison, and juvenile systems in accordance with national and local standards as well as multiple consent decrees and settlement agreements.

Dr. Helfand holds long term certification as a Certified Correctional Health Professional through the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) where he was a contributor to the inaugural Mental Health Standards and a long standing presenter of those standards. He is a former Board Chair for the Academy of Correctional Health Professionals and has published book chapters and articles related to behavioral treatment (self-injury and management of the disruptive inmate) and management plans, and serves as a consultant and expert witness to address those challenges.

Dr. Helfand has served as Executive Director of Bleuler Psychotherapy Center since 2015 overseeing both the licensed OMH and OASAS programs. He currently consults to NCCHC Resources Inc providing evaluation and technical assistance to several jail systems and to DHS related to conditions of confinement. He has held the position of Senior Vice President of Operations for Correct Care Solutions, overseeing mental health and health services in city and county jails throughout the east coast. Dr. Helfand is the former: Statewide Director of Mental Health for all Connecticut jails and prisons, Deputy Director / Acting Director of Mental Health at Rikers Island jails, Director of Forensic Mental Health at Nassau County Correctional Center, and Director of Mental Health / Health Service Administrator at the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice.

Business Consulting Services - Dr. Helfand is often called upon to assess the functioning of jail based mental health programs and to offer recommendations within the framework of national standards, best practices, and local requirements. He has extensive experience and documented success in:

• Contract Monitoring of Mental Health / Health Vendor Services
• Suicide Prevention Policy and Physical Plant Review
• Monitoring and Implementation of Federal (Department of Justice) and Local Consent Decrees / Settlement Agreements related to Mental Health Care
• Jail / Prison Policy Development
• Jail / Prison Mental Health Program Development
• Management of Self-Injurious / Disruptive Inmates
• NCCHC Accreditation Preparation 
• Application of National Mental Health Standards and Regulatory Issues
• Systems Developed for the Assessment and Treatment of the Mentally Ill
• Use of Force / Segregation with the Mentally Ill

View Dr. Steven J. Helfand's Expert Witness Profile.