Today Ann Kasper introduces a series of interviews about the experience of civil commitment.

In upcoming days we’ll show you brief interviews by Ann with Mike Hlebechuck – a formerly civilly committed person, Jean Dentinger – the Multnomah County Involuntary Commitment Supervisor, Alex Bassos of the Metropolitan Pubic Defender’s office, Linda O’Malia – a court mental health examiner, Connie Isgro – judge pro tem of the Civil Commitment Court. Finally Ann shows us an edited ‘conversation’ about how to improve our county’s civil commitment process.

Ann is an artist, a teacher, and a board member of the Mental Health Association of Oregon.