This training is designed for public interest attorneys who work with low-income clients, including clients with mental health disabilities, who may present with challenging behaviors. To provide effective representation, an advocate needs to respond to these challenges by building trust with their client, providing reasonable accommodations when necessary, and setting professional boundaries. The training will begin with a discussion of people-first language and client-centered interviewing and move on to
strategies to employ when working with clients with challenging behaviors.

Presenter: Jo Bloomfield, Managing Attorney at Mental Health Advocacy Services.

Johanna (“Jo”) Bloomfield is the Directing Attorney of Mental Health Advocacy Services. She oversees the organization’s legal programs, including its medical-legal partnership, special education, re-entry, and intake projects. She also supervises legal fellows and runs the summer law clerk program. Prior to this role, Jo was Senior Attorney at MHAS and provided direct legal services to clients in the county’s Medical Legal Community Partnership program. She has more than a decade of experience in general poverty law, with particular expertise in disability benefits and mental health law and policy.