Imagine coming home from prison faced not only with the challenges of finding housing and work, but also with the added stress of unresolved medical and behavioral health issues.
Parole Project’s Reentry Health Initiative (RHI) bridges critical gaps in mental health and medical services by providing essential support to help participants successfully reintegrate into society.
About the Reentry Health Initiative
The Reentry Health Initiative is designed to meet the specific medical and behavioral health needs of formerly incarcerated individuals, including maintaining sobriety and addressing trauma related to incarceration.
RHI serves individuals with histories of mental health issues, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. We identify and address potential mental health or substance abuse issues prior to release through in-reach screening and assessment services to determine each client’s individual physical and behavioral health care needs for a successful reentry.
Our Process
Clients receive individualized support designed to overcome key obstacles to successful reentry. Staff, community leaders, and volunteers teach daily classes at our office. Each session is designed to highlight unfamiliar issues, duscuss solutions, and build confidence as independent problem solvers.
1. Pre-Release Screening and Assessment
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) conduct comprehensive risk and needs assessments six months prior to release.
- Assessments identify potential mental health, substance abuse, and reintegration challenges.
2. Tailored Support Plans
- Individualized case management plans address each participant’s unique needs, ensuring a smooth transition to life outside prison walls.
3. Post-Release Continuum of Care
Connections to evidence-based supportive services include:
- Individual and group therapy for mental health and substance abuse
- Day treatment and medication management
4. Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation
- Regular evaluations help refine services and maintain high success rates.
Reentry Health Initiative's Impact
RHI fills a gap in community-based resources for those reentering society after long sentences. It helps individuals achieve stability, reduces recidivism, and improves public safety by directly addressing the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated persons and the reality of post-incarceration syndrome, a form of trauma experienced during incarceration and manifested after release.