This presentation explores how Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) strengthen person-centered crisis response and improve coordination across behavioral health, medical, and public safety systems. PADs allow individuals to document their treatment preferences, de-escalation strategies, and emergency contacts before a behavioral health crisis occurs. Research shows that PADs can increase treatment engagement while reducing involuntary hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and law enforcement involvement. The session highlights the launch of California’s “live” digital PADs registry, currently piloting in eight counties, which improves access to PADs during crisis situations and helps remove guesswork for responders. The presenter will discuss the specific statewide training and implementation efforts that prepare crisis teams, hospitals, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and behavioral health providers to use PADs effectively. Participants will learn how to integrate PADs into crisis response protocols to improve care coordination, support recovery, promote autonomy, and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and incarcerations.
Learning Objects
1. Explain the purpose, legal framework, and enforceability of Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) in California.
2. Identify when and how PADs should be accessed and applied during a behavioral health crisis.
3. Apply person-centered, peer-informed communication strategies to support PAD utilization.
Speaker:
Kiran Sahota, MA
President & CEO, Concepts Forward Consulting
Behavioral Health Leader | CalAIM & Medi-Cal Strategist | PADs Subject Matter Expert
With nearly three decades of experience in social services, Kiran Sahota has transformed community behavioral health through innovative programming, law enforcement training, and digital solutions. Beginning her career as a social worker, she held roles across county and nonprofit settings, developing independent living skills and housing programs for transitional-aged youth, training law enforcement in crisis intervention and de-escalation, and building mental health innovation and prevention programs within a large county mental health plan. She rose to Senior Behavioral Health Manager and served as Co-Chair of the Statewide Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Coordinators Committee before retiring from county mental health in 2020.
Since retiring, Ms. Sahota has served as President and CEO of Concepts Forward Consulting, partnering with California counties on statewide initiatives including CalAIM, the Behavioral Health Services Act, and electronic Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs). She has also worked as a Medi-Cal EQRO Reviewer, evaluating service quality for county Mental Health Plans, and continues to provide expertise in strategic planning, program evaluation, outcomes measurement, and quality improvement.
As Project Director of the California Multi-County PADs Project for over 5 years, Ms. Sahota is a recognized subject-matter expert on digital PADs and county-wide implementation. She has presented at CIT International and SAMHSA and is a contributing author in Le guide des directives anticipées psychiatriques, published in France. Her expertise spans CalAIM, Medi-Cal strategy, law enforcement training, mental health advocacy, stakeholder engagement, suicide prevention, and digital transformation with a global lens toward systemic change.
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (PST)
Cost: $20 for Members | $35 for Non-Members
Registration Opening Soon!
SCAHRM is approved by the California State Bar as an MCLE Multiple Activity Provider (MAP #18946) and a Continuing Education Provider by the California Board of Nursing (CEP #10552).
This activity qualifies for 1.0 MCLE credit hour and 1.0 BRN continuing education contact hours. This meeting is pending approval for a total of 1.0 contact hours of Continuing Education Credit toward fulfillment of the requirements of ASHRM designations of FASHRM (Fellow) and DFASHRM (Distinguished Fellow) and towards CPHRM renewal.
Please note: No refunds are given for cancellation or non-attendance. If you have registered for this event and are unable to attend, please get in touch with SCAHRM at [email protected] or [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the event.
