The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center has released Adults with Behavioral Health Needs under Correctional Supervision: A Shared Framework for Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery. The report is written for policymakers, administrators, and service providers committed to improving outcomes for the large number of adults with mental health and substance use disorders that cycle through the criminal justice system. It introduces an evidence-based framework for prioritizing scarce resources based on assessments of individuals’ risk of committing a future crime and their treatment and support needs. The report also outlines the principles and practices of the substance abuse, mental health, and corrections systems and proposes a structure for state and local agencies to build collaborative responses.

The report introduces a framework that can be used at the corrections and behavioral health systems level to prioritize scarce resources based on objective assessments of individuals’ risk of committing a future crime and their treatment and support needs. The report on the Criminogenic Risk and Behavioral Health Needs Framework was supported by the U.S. Justice Department’s National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It was developed in partnership with the

• Association of State Correctional Administrators,
• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors,
• National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors,
• American Probation and Parole Association, and other organizations and national experts.

“NIC recognizes the care of inmates with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses as a top priority for the nation’s correctional systems. Our support of the framework is indicative of the need for corrections to have comprehensive tools that guide practitioners through effective decision making, program planning, and treatment. The framework is one of many methods and processes that will aid in this endeavor. NIC is pleased to be part of these efforts,” said Director Morris Thigpen.
 
The framework white paper and summary, a FAQ, link to the press release, and other resources can be  found at www.csgjusticecenter.org/mentalhealth/bhcorrframework.

A webinar will be held October 2, 2012 to introduce the framework and how it can be used. Click here for information and a registration link. 

The report and related materials were supported by the National Institute of Corrections, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They were developed in partnership with the Association of State Correctional Administrators, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, the American Probation and Parole Association, and other organizations and national experts. Single hard copies can be ordered while supplies last from NCJRS (www.ncjrs.gov, NCJ# 239596).

“Learning sites” are programs that use promising approaches and are committed to ongoing quality improvement and sharing their expertise through peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Since 2006, the CSG Justice Center has worked in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to identify and highlight criminal justice/mental health collaborations from across the country who can serve as learning sites for those interested in mental health courts and in collaborations between law enforcement and mental health agencies (http://consensusproject.org/learningsites).

In order to ensure that learning sites meet the needs of the field, the Justice Center is asking criminal justice and mental health practitioners to participate in a brief survey to provide feedback on programs and topics of interest, as well as peer-to-peer learning strategies. Your responses will inform future learning site programs and offerings.

Please take a few minutes to complete the 10 short questions in this survey by clicking on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BTJG9LF. The survey will close at the end of the day on Friday, September 28th. For more information, please contact Lindsey Fry at lfry@csg.org. We appreciate your participation!

ASCA, NASADAD,and NASMHPD are working with CSG to develop a Framework for Targeting Scarce Behavioral Health/Criminal Justice Resources to the Highest Risk/Highest Need Populations.  Click here to download the DRAFT concept paper that describes the focus of that effort.

A Joint Meeting of the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA), the Association of State Alcohol/Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) was convened at the Marriott Metro in Washington, DC, December 16th and 17th, 2008. The meeting was conducted with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for the purpose of advancing the progress made during the June 2007 meeting of the three organizations. Pursuant to the Guiding Principals established at the June 2007 meeting, the objective of the December 2008 meeting was to develop a set of “action steps” through which practical and cost effective deliverables might be produced, and to establish responsibilities and timelines for their implementation.

Click this link for a full meeting summary

Click here for the 37 guiding principals developed from the meeting

SAMHSA recently announced a new working definition of recovery from mental disorders and substance use disorders. The definition is the product of a year-long effort by SAMHSA and a wide range of partners in the behavioral health care community and other fields to develop a working definition of recovery that captures the essential, common experiences of those recovering from mental disorders and substance use disorders. Major guiding principles support the recovery definition. SAMHSA led this effort as part of its Recovery Support Strategic Initiative.

The new working definition of Recovery From Mental Disorders and Substance Use Disorders is as follows:

A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.

Through the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA also has delineated four major dimensions that support a life in recovery:

• Health: Overcoming or managing one's disease(s) as well as living in a physically and emotionally healthy way.
• Home: A stable and safe place to live.
• Purpose: Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income, and resources to participate in society.
• Community: Relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.

Click here for the full press release

The purpose of this project is to provide information to SAMHSA on strategic approaches they can promote through their work with State and local policy makers, agency administrators, and providers to advance the implementation of Evidence Based Practices that have been shown to reduce recidivism and drug use and increase positive outcomes for justice- involved individuals with addiction and co-occurring disorders. ASCA is participating in project workgroups. The following are resource documents presented in project meetings that may be of value to your agency.

•  Click here for: Advancing Uptake of EBPs, Dr. Taxman’s presentation from the September 26th meeting.
•  Click here for: Advancing Uptake of EBPS through the Second Chance Act
•  Click here for: Measuring Collaboration and Integration (2009)
•  Click here for: Competing Values Among CJ Administrators (2009)