What is a Collection?
Playbook Collections explore interventions that address the needs of people with complex needs by curating available peer-reviewed research, case studies, and tools. Although not exhaustive, Collections evolve as new and promising research and other resources are available.
People returning to communities after incarceration face significant health challenges, including high rates of mental illness and substance use disorders (SUD). An estimated 37% of incarcerated people have a mental illness and 63% have an active SUD, and individuals leaving correctional facilities are at an alarming risk of experiencing an opioid overdose. This population also encounters substantial barriers to accessing health care services and faces difficulty meeting key health-related social needs (HRSN), such as housing, healthy food, and employment.
The reentry period, leading up to and immediately following release from prison or jail, is a critical window to facilitate access to care and stability needed to promote good health for those leaving incarceration. Improved access to care and services during reentry is also correlated with a lower risk of reincarceration, creating opportunity for alignment across historically siloed sectors.
Health care organizations and correctional facilities are increasingly partnering to address behavioral health outcomes during reentry through evidence-based interventions, both within correctional settings and in the community following release. These interventions include medications for addiction treatment, case management, referrals to services to address HRSN, and peer support.
Recent policy developments at the federal level are promoting new opportunities to support effective reentry. These include the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ reentry 1115 demonstration waiver opportunity, which enables states to reimburse for key pre-release services through Medicaid, and a U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration grant opportunity for federally qualified health centers to implement reentry services. Behavioral health care providers, correctional facilities, policymakers, health plans, and community-based organizations can use this Better Care Playbook Collection to understand evidence-based strategies to better address the behavioral health needs of people during reentry and learn about promising implementation strategies.
What works in addressing behavioral health during reentry?
Following are summaries of peer-reviewed research, evaluations, and reports on addressing behavioral health needs during reentry. Many of these resources highlight interventions that lead to both improved health outcomes and reductions in reincarceration.
What do these programs look like in practice?
Below find on-the-ground perspectives or experiences in implementing programs to address behavioral health needs during reentry. These case studies may be useful for organizations interested in implementing similar interventions.
How can my organization implement these approaches?
Following are practical tools and strategies for implementing evidence-based practices that address behavioral health needs during reentry. Resources include trauma-informed approaches and tailored interventions to address the unique needs of people leaving incarceration.