STRATEGIES AND UPDATES

Below is a list recommendations and update of the implementation plan that were approved by the Director’s of partnering state agencies to enhance the transition process.

Transitional Accountability Plans:

The transition process in most states—how offenders spend their time during confinement, how they are released from prison, and how they are supervised during adjustment to life in free communities—is flawed. Missouri is no exception.

When offenders are released to community supervision, too often there is little continuity between their prison programs and activities, their reentry plans, and the type of supervision and services they receive once released.

There is a strong correlation between a well-planned transition and an offender’s successful return to the community. The Transition Accountability Plan will begin when an offender is initially placed under the purview of the Department of Corrections. As the offender’s assets and liabilities are determined, a detailed individualized plan is formulated and key mentors are identified and assigned to the offender’s case management team. This plan lays the groundwork for success.

Over the period of incarceration, the offender, their families, staff and community resources work together to address past issues and to ensure the offender continues to work toward achieving their goals in preparation for release. As the offender successfully completes a goal, the plan is modified.

The use of the Transition Accountability Plan strengthens the Department’s ability to hold offenders accountable for their actions, provides offenders with the tools necessary to identify and address liabilities that contribute to criminality, and provides concerted department and community resources to support their goals during incarceration and within the community.

Transitional Housing Units:

The Department of Corrections has established Transitional Housing Units in five institutions, Algoa Correctional Center, Booneville Correctional Center, Missouri Eastern Correctional Center, Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center and Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center. Seven additional Transitional Housing Units are scheduled to come online in Spring 2006; Chillicothe Correctional Center, Farmington Correctional Center, Maryville Treatment Center, Moberly Correctional Center, Cremer Therapeutic Center, Tipton Correctional Center and Western Missouri Correctional Center.

A Transitional Housing Unit (THU) is a housing unit or wing in the institution. Within 180 days of an offender’s release, the offender is moved to a THU. While in the THU the offender works on goals outlined in their Transitional Accountability Plan (TAP) and receives intensive case management focused on the offender’s seamless transition home. Programming offered in the THU includes but is not limited to Employability Skills/Life Skills, cognitive skills training, parenting classes, substance abuse education. All offenders in the THU are registered in the “GreatHires” system and linkages are made to community resources to ensure continuity of care upon release.

Plan for internal and external communication and education about MRP:

Missouri Reentry Process (MRP) video was produced in September 2004 and copies were distributed to partnering agencies for internal staff education. Two MRP brochures were produced for both internal and external communication purposes and are shared on a regular basis with community members and partnering agency staff.

Missouri and Michigan were chosen to participate in a videoconference held by the National Institute of Corrections on September 28 th, 2005. This videoconference allowed a panel of experts including Mark Stringer, DMH; Roderick Nunn, DWD; and Julie Boehm, DOC, to talk about assets and liabilities of adopting the Transition from Prison to Community Model.  Representatives from Michigan were part of this panel discussion as well.

Development of an employability screening and rehabilitation plan process for each offender:

Through collaboration with DWD it was determined that CHOICES was the employability screening tool that could be administered by DOC staff and utilized by DWD upon the offender’s release. CHOICES licenses were purchased for each Employability Skills/Life Skills classroom. Each offender enrolled in ES/LS class completes a CHOICES employability screening which will be faxed to the applicable Career Center before the offender’s release.

Revise DMH Institutional Substance Abuse Treatment Certification Standards to place emphasis on discharge planning, transition practices, and successful linkage to community providers for continuity-of-care:

The Department of Corrections estimates that 75% of offenders in Missouri need substance abuse services. Although substance abuse treatment services are offered within institutions, there has been considerable variance in the types and quality of programs and services provided from institution to institution. There as also been poor coordination of care during transition from prison to community.

The Department of Corrections and the Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, are collaborating to revise Standards placing an emphasis on certification of institutional treatment programming, discharge planning and continuity of care.

Institutional mental health services providers complete formal mental health discharge planning, allowing offenders to make direct linkage to community providers for continuity-of-care:

Although mental health care is offered within the institutions, there is a poor coordination of care for transition from prison to community. Without a well designed discharge planning process, offender needing/receiving mental health services are at high risk of having necessary services disrupted. Discharge planning begins early and is continuously addressed and updated until the offender is discharged or released. Proper discharge planning assures better communication between the institution, field probation and parole and the community providers.

In February 2005 D5-8.12 Mental Health Discharge Planning policy was finalized. This policy established guidelines for preparing offenders with serious mental illness for discharge to the community.

Implement evidence based programs for enhancing offender motivation, problem solving ability and thinking process:

A significant number of offenders have serious cognitive skill deficits. Research has proven that utilizing cognitive skill programming with offenders has a positive impact on recidivism and increases successful supervision by staff. In addition, cognitive skill programming has a positive impact on the behavior of incarcerated offenders.

The contract for cognitive skills programming was awarded to Positive Solutions Associates, Inc. on February 2, 2005. The Department refers to this program as Pathway to Change. Pathway to Change is a curriculum designed to teach decision making and cognitive skills to offenders through value-based lesson plans designed around the way the majority of offenders learn. Pathway to Change is a critical component of a successful reentry process.

Since the contract was awarded an implementation team has been established to oversee the statewide implementation. When Pathway to Change is fully implemented the Department will utilize cognitive skill programming in correctional facilities, treatment centers, supervision districts and community supervision centers statewide.

Establish linkage to the division of workforce development and workforce investment boards for services to offenders prior to release:

Unemployment and underemployment are the leading attributes of offenders being returned to prison. Data shows that offenders who do not secure full time employment upon released are more likely to return to prison than those who do.

To address this problem the Department of Corrections and the Division of Workforce Development has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which defines the manner in which the Division of Workforce Development and the local workforce Investment Boards and their contractors and sub-contractors will participate in the Missouri Reentry Process.

Develop a targeted educational effort for prospective employers that demonstrates the benefits of hiring offenders following release from prison:

The Department of Corrections and the Division of Workforce Development has initiated a public information program that emphasizes the benefits of hiring ex-offenders. The MRP Video and various materials are being shared with the community. The “Employing Ex-offenders” brochure was developed. This brochure educates prospective employers about the benefits of hiring offenders. This brochure was included in a packet of information given to all employers registered in the Great Hires system and distributed to all Probation and Parole offices.

With reentry into the labor market being one of the most challenging situations an ex-offender faces the Department of Corrections in collaboration with the Division of Workforce Development has implemented Institutional Job Fairs. The goal of these Job Fairs is to familiarize offenders soon to be released with the types of employment opportunities available to them and to expose potential employers to a skilled workforce pool they may not have previously considered.

Provide offenders with state identification cards, birth certificates and social security cards upon release from prison:

Ensuring all offenders have a social security card, birth certificate and state identification card when released from prison will directly impact the ability for an offender to obtain employment within the first 60 days after release.

To address this barrier to employment all THU’s are assisting offenders with obtaining replacement social security cards through an informal agreement with their local Social Security office.

Birth Certificates: The Department of Corrections and the Department Health and Senior Services have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to assist offenders in obtaining birth certificates before release.

State Identification Cards: The Department of Corrections and the Department of Revenue are working together to provide state identification cards to offenders before release. To obtain a state identification card, offenders must have a social security card and birth certificate. All identification documentation will be scanned at the institution and electronically sent to DOR along with an electronic application and picture. This process will be piloted at Algoa Correctional Center and Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center.

Partner with One-Stop Career Centers through formal linkages:

As data shows, unemployment is highly correlated with an offender returning to prison. The Department of Corrections and the Division of Workforce Development are working together to assist offenders with obtaining employment soon after release thereby reducing recidivism rates and saving taxpayers’ dollars.

Before release, all offenders are screened for services offered at local One-Stop Career Centers such as, Parents Fair Share, Career Assistance Program, and Veterans Services etc. Offenders are registered in Great Hires and have an appointment scheduled with a Career Center prior to release from prison.

Division of Workforce Development’s staff provide a monthly Career Center overview to offenders in the THU’s.

Expand and provide employability skills/life skills (ES/LS) programs to all offenders who would benefit from it prior to release:

ES/LS is a program administered under the Division of Offender Rehabilitation Services Technical Training Program. The 10-12 week program covers a wide variety of topics that include assessing skills and abilities, filling out employment applications, interviewing, family relationships, marriage, parenting, budgeting and miscellaneous other things that a successful citizen should know.

Data shows offenders who complete the department’s Employability and Life Skills program show a much lower return rate of re-incarceration in the first year after released than those who failed the program or those with no life skills training.

ES/LS program is offered in all THU’s, low custody institutions and several high custody facilities.

Expand vocational training opportunities in institutions:

Data shows that offenders who raise their vocational skill level while in prison have a much lower return to prison rate than those with no vocational skills at five years from release.

Facility constraints such as the availability of classrooms, laboratories and funding have an impact on the rate of implementation of this recommendation. All MVE is now classified as Vocational Training and have received accreditation from the US Department of Labor.

Recently added vocational opportunities:

Offer evidence-based relationship and family programming at all institutions:

Several studies have shown continued contact with family members during and following incarceration can reduce recidivism and foster integration into the community. Missouri’s correctional system has not historically focused on family relationships or creating social support systems for offenders who return to their communities.

In January 2005 the University Extension was awarded the contract to offer Building Strong Families (BSF) in the THU’s. BSF is a strength-based program developed by the University of Missouri Extension and tested over an eight-year period in Missouri. BSF helps families identify and build strengths, face their challenges, and make informed choices.

Offenders at all THU’s are receiving the BSF program. The Department has received positive feedback from both staff and offenders.

Offender visitor policy should include training on offender and family dynamics, values and the importance of family and pro-social relationships:

Studies show that family support while incarcerated and after release to be highly correlated to an offender success once released.

The Department of Corrections revised Procedure IS13-3.1 Offender Visitors to include a paragraph directing all staff assigned to work in a visiting room receive training focused on offender and family dynamics, family values and the importance of family and pro-social relationships within 90 days of being assigned to the visiting room. The Central Training Academy developed a training program to coincide with the IS procedure requirement.

Update Family and Friends Orientation Booklet and Orientation Visits at Reception and Diagnostic Centers:

The Family and Friends Orientation Booklet provides offender families with information about diagnostic process, prison life, visiting, and other policies. The orientation visit addresses frequently asked questions that visitors may have.

The Friends and Family Orientation Booklet has been updated and orientation visits are occurring at all reception and diagnostic centers on a regular basis.

Allow school ID’s with photo instead of requiring state ID’s for visiting children:

Historically, DOC policy dictated that children obtain a Department of Revenue state identification card to enter an institution. Policy IS 13-3.1 Offender Visitors has been revised allowing children to use school ID’s for visitation purposes.

Implement a therapeutic child and offender visitation program at all institutions:

Data shows offenders in prison and under community corrections supervision report having 112,246 dependent age children. A high percentage of both female and male offenders are not receiving visits from their children.

The Department of Corrections is piloting Supportive Parent/Child Visitation Model (SPCV) for incarcerated parents, their children, and other family members at Algoa Correctional Center and Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center. SPCV centers on healing and building positive relationships, pre-visit preparation, structured visits, and post-visit debriefings. The Department has a timetable for implementing SPCV throughout the state.

Designate specialized Department of Social Services staff to handle the needs of offenders prior to release:

The Department of Corrections and the Department of Social Services has entered into a Memorandum and Understanding (MOU). The MOU allows for DOSS staff to enter institutions to provide on site services and/or information to offenders in the THUs. Services/information includes How best to work with DOSS, Food Stamps, Foster Care, Child Support, Temporary Assistance, etc.

Develop a wider range of housing options for offenders released from institutions, including transitional housing for substance abusers:

During FY2002, approximately 30% of the 6.650 board violators and 120-day returns did not have a known stable address at the time of their re-incarceration.

To begin addressing this barrier Probation and Parole staff are now members of Regional Housing Boards across the state.

Establish a means for disabled offenders to apply for supplemental security income (SSI) prior to release:

The implementation of this recommendation will allow disabled and aged offenders to apply for SSI 90 days prior to release.

An initial plan to assist disabled offenders with applying for SSI before release has been developed and will be piloted at Algoa Correctional Center before a Memorandum of Understanding is drafted. SSI Eligibility Indicators checklist has been developed to assist THU staff in determining offenders who may qualify.

Establish a means for eligible, disabled offenders to apply for Medicaid prior to release:

Offenders with mental illness have a higher level of recidivism. Probation and Parole officers cited mental illness as a major issue among their clientele, with problems including access to medication and treatment.

The Department of Corrections and the Department of Social Services has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that allows for disabled offenders to apply for Medicaid 90 days prior to release.

This recommendation, when fully implemented, will enable offenders to obtain medical/mental health care upon release.

Establish standards-of-care for mental health professionals working with released offenders:

Probation and Parole Officers working with offenders in the field rely upon a variety of agencies and professionals to provide mental health services for offenders. There is no current standard of care for agencies or professionals working with offenders unless they are certified by the Department of Mental Health or contracted by the Department of Corrections. Consequently, there is also variance in the quality of mental health services provided, including conditions under which information is shared; level of involvement of field officer and family members; assessment, treatment planning, treatment evaluation, and discharge planning etc.

To address this, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Mental Health collaborated to develop Guidelines for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals providing professional clinical services to offenders under probation or parole field supervision. The guidelines also delineate expectations of probation and parole officers in the referral and treatment process.

The Guidelines now accompany each probation and parole referral for mental health or substance abuse services.

Create a comprehensive, web-based resource guide of services and resources available to transitioning offenders, their families and transition accountability team participants:

There are many community resources available to assist in the transitioning of offenders but locating these resources in a timely manner has proven problematic. Historically, printed regional guides of services and resources were used; however, these guides became obsolete almost as quickly as they were printed. Without up to date resource guides continuity of care can not be ensured.

Community Connection is a statewide web-based resource guide of information about a wide variety of resources and services for Missourians. The MRP Steering Team came to a consensus that the Department would support Community Connection as its guide to resources and services available to assist with transitioning offenders.

Use a standardized substance abuse screening and assessment protocol for all offenders:

The Department of Corrections estimates that 75% of offenders in Missouri need substance abuse services.

A standardized substance abuse screening and assessment protocol has been implemented for offenders in reception and diagnostic centers and in the field Probation and Parole.

Offer individualized, community-based treatment programming that helps offenders succeed in both employment and substance abuse treatment without one interfering with the other:

Restructuring of all of the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse primary recovery treatment to include multi-level of care vocational and flexible programming was initiated in 2004 and was effective April 1, 2005. This model incorporates employment as a treatment goal, offers employment interventions and does not interfere with existing employment.