By James Davy

 

In an innovative collaboration, Rutgers University Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration is partnering with the New Jersey Reentry Corporation and the New Jersey State Policy Lab to develop a comprehensive policy framework aimed at systematically improving mental health and addiction treatment for justice-involved individuals. This groundbreaking initiative is taking a unique approach by utilizing Appreciative Inquiry and the SOAR framework, which focuses on identifying and building upon existing strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and desired results.

Appreciative Inquiry is a powerful tool for effecting positive change by shifting the focus from problem-solving to asset-based thinking. By appreciating the current strengths and opportunities within the system, stakeholders can collectively envision aspirational goals and develop actionable strategies to achieve desired outcomes.

The SOAR framework serves as a guiding principle for this collaborative effort, encouraging stakeholders to explore and leverage the following areas:

  1. Strengths: Recognizing the existing strengths and unique resources within the current system that can be leveraged to enhance mental health and addiction treatment services for justice-involved individuals.
  2. Opportunities: Identifying systemic changes and new partnerships that can be pursued to better meet the needs of this population.
  3. Aspirations: Envisioning transformative policy initiatives and programs that can be prioritized and implemented to drive meaningful change.
  4. Results: Defining measurable outcomes and indicators that will demonstrate the positive impact of the proposed initiatives on the well-being of justice-involved individuals.

To initiate this process, the team has developed a set of appreciative questions to engage stakeholders and gather valuable insights. These questions delve into the strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and desired results, fostering a constructive dialogue and laying the foundation for innovative policy recommendations. Some of the key questions being explored include:

  • What existing resources are critical in continuing to serve the needs of justice-involved individuals?
  • What systemic changes must be put in place to better meet the mental health and addiction treatment needs of justice-involved individuals?
  • What transformative policy initiatives should be prioritized for implementation?
  • What meaningful measures would indicate that the proposed initiatives are on track to achieving the desired outcomes?

By leveraging the power of Appreciative Inquiry and the SOAR framework, this collaborative effort aims to develop a comprehensive and transformative policy platform that will significantly improve the mental health and addiction treatment services available to justice-involved individuals in New Jersey.

The SOAR survey was sent to approximately 700 individuals representing the whole system of stakeholders. The research team is planning to report survey findings later in May or early June. The results of the survey will be used to identify affirmative topics for an Appreciative Inquiry Planning Summit in the early fall 2024. For more information about the process, please contact James M. Davy, PhD. Rutgers University, Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration jdavy@newark.rutgers.edu.