The period after an incarcerated person is released is a very sensitive time. If these men and women don’t get the help they need, it can be difficult for them to lead healthy lives. As it happens, there are ways MIH-CP programs can help with transitional services and release planning for inmates.
Those being released from jail or prison are often at high risk of falling into dangerous mental health struggles or substance abuse. Further, many people don’t have a solid social network to provide housing and healthcare support. MIH-CP programs can follow up on these people, respond if they have a crisis, and act as a connection to needed resources.
Let’s talk about how community paramedicine and mobile integrated health programs can support people preparing for life beyond incarceration.
The Goals of Discharge Planning for Transitional services and Release Planning for Inmates
Before we can talk about how MIH-CP programs can help incarcerated populations, we have to talk about the primary struggles of those transitioning from jail or prison and the goals for providing support.
MIH-CP programs are at their best when they provide focused, quality care. Programs that pick a few key goals and then strive to attain them will likely see more success than those that are unfocused in their approach. Let’s discuss some of the most common objectives when caring for those recently released from incarceration.
Here are three primary goals:
- Promote independence
- Provide care to common struggles (mental health/drug abuse)
- Prevent Recidivism
Now, we’ll uncover the details of each of these efforts.
Promote Independence
A common goal for those transitioning out of incarceration is regaining independence. However, it’s not as simple as bushing the person from the nest and hoping they can fly. There is a careful balance that must be maintained.
If the person is given total independence, there is a chance they will relapse into negative behavior patterns and that they won’t have built the necessary tools to thrive. However, if there’s too little freedom, then the person may be stunted from attaining the skills and confidence to live a healthy life after incarceration.
For this reason, programs must take discharge planning seriously and evaluate each person’s unique needs. Now, let’s discuss another key aspect of reacclimating incarcerated people to live positive lives upon release.
Provide Care for Mental Health and Drug Abuse
Another goal is to prevent recently released incarcerated people from sliding into mental health emergencies or substance abuse. Indeed, many people in these situations are struggling with some mental health issues.
Some will have severe mental health impairments that will preclude total independence, and others will need frequent care to manage their psychological health. Unfortunately, mental health struggles and battles with substance abuse often walk hand in hand.
Many of those who are incarcerated are already taking some form of prescription pharmaceutical to help them with a mental health issue or other related problem. When these people are released, there is a risk that they will fall back into drug abuse or that they won’t have someone to help them steadily continue their medications.
All these issues of independence and drug abuse can lead to the worst-case scenario: re-entry to prison.
Prevent Recidivism (Re-entry)
One of the more common terms in law enforcement and criminal justice is recidivism. Recidivism is the situation where someone who has been released from prison goes on to commit a crime and then be arrested.
Unfortunately, many people who are preparing to be discharged from incarceration will go on to be arrested for crimes, and much of this has to do with the difficulty in that transition period from incarceration to outside society.
But can mobile integrated healthcare-community paramedicine help? While MIH-CP is still an emerging health model, there are many ways in which the specialties of MIH-CP programs match the goals of discharge planning for those in jail or prison.
The Ways MIH-CP Programs Help Communities with Transitional Services and Release Planning for inmates
Now, let’s discuss some of the ways that MIH-CP programs can directly assist in the discharge of people from correctional facilities. As you’ll see, the agile nature of mobile integrated healthcare is well suited to helping manage the needs of those transitioning from incarceration to normal life.
Here are several ways MIH-CP programs can help with release planning for incarcerated persons:
- Creating a link in care
- Coordinating mental health programs
- Providing substance abuse intervention
- Being aware of the possibility of homelessness
Let’s look at these possibilities in more depth.
Note: the key to making these initiatives work is communication. To provide real help to people, all program members need to sit at the table and share their strengths, weaknesses, and strategies. Each area will require a specialized approach.
Maintaining a Continuum of Care
When a person is first released from a correctional facility, they are at high risk of relapsing into harmful behavior patterns. SAMSA has identified this transition period as critical for successful reintegration into everyday life.
Why is this? The release of an incarcerated person naturally means some return of freedom. And, while freedom is the goal, it must be delivered in a healthy way. Many people at this stage in the release process do not have a strong family structure, may not have reliable housing, and might not have the psychological capabilities to maintain their health.
Mobile integrated healthcare can help these people by responding to them during a crisis or regularly checking in on them wherever they reside. Mobile integrated healthcare professionals such as community paramedics can act as ambassadors for these people, connecting them with doctors, social workers, rehab facilities, and safe housing options.
Providing Mental Health Care
Mobile Integrated Health programs are also well-adept in assisting people being discharged from incarceration with their mental health struggles. While those released from prison certainly need to abide by laws, many agree that it’s in the best interest of the patient and the community to limit interaction with law enforcement unless necessary.
Mental health co-response teams can help these people by delivering a mental health professional directly to their location. Also, community paramedics can check in on these patients and assist in obtaining mental healthcare if necessary. Unfortunately, many people don’t get help because they don’t know which number to call – MIH-CP programs ensure that doesn’t happen.
Assisting with Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is another high risk for those leaving the criminal justice system. However, MIH-CP programs have proven their effectiveness in responding to and limiting the risk of substance abuse.
There are several ways that MIH-CP programs can help reduce the risk that those discharged from incarceration fall into drug abuse.
First, community paramedics can check on the person regularly to ensure that they are regularly taking their prescription medications. They can also help address a patient’s pain before it becomes overwhelming.
Second, mobile integrated health programs can provide a follow-up response to people if they do experience an overdose. These programs are often known as Post Overdose Response Teams. A PORT is typically voluntary, and they will usually respond several days after an overdose to check in on the person.
Note: there are also many opportunities for MIH-CP programs to help maintain the general health of those who have recently been incarcerated. Many times, these people are dealing with health concerns that go beyond mental health and substance abuse. Some people are struggling with diabetes, HIV, or heart disease. MIH teams are well-positioned to assist.
Preventing Homelessness
Another risk for those leaving incarceration is a lack of adequate housing. For example, many people who have been in and out of jail in prison lack a solid social structure. In these cases, they don’t usually have many friends or family willing to house them and help them reacclimate.
Furthermore, as many have felony records, they struggle to find steady work that offers enough money to pay their own bills. In these instances, community paramedics and MIH can help.
The most common way MIH can help is by connecting these people with the local resources available and responding to those who find themselves in and out of unstable housing situations.
If you’re curious, you can read more about how MIH-CP reaches out to the homeless population.
Key Point: Mobile Integrated Healthcare Can Help Incarcerated Populations Adjust
There are several hundred thousand incarcerated people released each year. Unfortunately, many of these people will struggle to overcome mental health struggles, avoid drug abuse, and find stable housing.
Through partnerships with MIH-CP, state correctional facilities can improve the outcomes for transitional services and release planning for inmates. MIH-CP programs can check in on these people, provide support, and act as a compass to guide them toward health and freedom.
Contact Julota to learn how their software tools can help your MIH-CP program collect better data, communicate with partners, and create more robust health programs for your area.