September Luncheon: Mental Illness & Addiction - Helping Families and Loved Ones: A Lawyer's Perspective with Lee Blumen, J.D., Esq.

Date: September, 16th 2016

Check-in: Begins at 11 am

Luncheon: 11:00 to 1:30

Location: Maggiano's Little Italy, 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA

A presentation by prominent Orange County attorney, Lee Blumen, Esq., whose practice exclusively focuses providing legal representation and mental health advocacy where there is on-going conflict, family safety concerns or criminal charges as a result of someone suffering from an untreated mental illness, substance abuse disorder, and/or co-occurring disorders.

The presentation will include concrete examples of how the legal justice system works (and sometimes doesn’t work), ranging from police encounters, CAT/PERT Team evaluations, involuntary detention evaluations and decisions, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (Laura’s Law), LPS and Probate conservatorships, criminal matters, and Community Court alternatives (mental health, drug & DUI programs).

The cases range from clients and families who have never been in the legal system (but are struggling with family conflicts), to those families entrenched within a flawed system and seeking expert advice.

There will be many opportunities for questions and answers and a dialogue with those in attendance.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Educate mental health professionals on the role of the legal justice system with respect to individuals suffering from mental health issues, addictive disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders, including explaining the role of specialty courts and the availability of community resources to assist this population.
2. Educate mental health professionals on how best to assist and provide guidance to clients who are involved in the legal system, ranging law enforcement encounters, involuntary detentions and commitments, proposed conservatorships, allegations of elder abuse, and court-ordered DUI, Drug and/or Mental Health treatment programs.
3. Examine and Discuss identifying and addressing stigma and bias both in the legal justice system and community at large as to individuals suffering from mental illness, addictive disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders.
4. Create a dialogue and better understanding as to the role of legal professionals and mental health professionals in the legal justice system.
5. Encourage participation in the legal justice system by members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

OC-CAMFT Members - $32  

OC CAMFT Guests - $37 

Deadline to pre-register is Sept 14th! 

Walk-ins - $45

If you prefer to pay by check, please click HERE for payment info and to submit a reservation form so that we have your email contact information. (check must be postmarked by Sept 14th) Please include your email address so that we can send you a confirmation email 2 days prior to the event.

Please review our ADA Policy HERE.

If you have a special need or need special accommodations, please click HERE. Please advise us of your needs no later than 7 days prior to the event so that we may be able to accommodate you.

Please make a separate transaction for each and every reservation requested. If you are paying by credit card, the receipt you receive at the end of your payment is your confirmation reservation. Those reserving by check and are reserving for 2 or more may combine payment. ONLY check payments received by deadline will receive an email confirmation 2 days prior to event. Any payments not received by deadline are not reserved and will be considered walk-in status. Please note our cancellation policy on our registration page.

• Course meets the qualifications for 1 hour of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

• Orange County Chapter of CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #59405) to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs.  Orange County Chapter of CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

Orange County attorney, Lee Blumen, Esq., exclusively focuses on providing legal representation and mental health advocacy where there is on-going conflict, family safety concerns or criminal charges as a result of someone suffering from an untreated mental illness, substance abuse disorder, and/or co-occurring disorders. Mr. Blumen represents individuals in need of treatment in lieu of incarceration, and also families who need advice and guidance on what legally can be done regarding on-going conflicts and family safety concerns, when a family member or friend is unwilling or unable to help him or herself.

Mr. Blumen has tried more than 50 jury trials, successfully defending life cases, other serious felonies, and clients with severe mental illnesses. He was an Orange County public defender for 26 years, where he supervised and trained attorneys in representing clients suffering from mental illness, addiction, and other disabilities. He is an instructor at the University of California, Irvine – Extension, and holds memberships in the California Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association, South Orange County Bar Association, and California Public Defenders Association. He is a certified mediator, and admitted to practice law in California and Tennessee.