By James M. Davy, Ph.D. and Momina Chaudhry
A Vision for Transformation
With funding from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, the Rutgers-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation are working to develop a plan to revolutionize mental health and addiction treatment services for justice-involved individuals. Through a series of SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) Forums and interviews conducted by the Rutgers University Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, stakeholders from across the state came together in May and June 2024 to envision a more compassionate, effective, and holistic approach to care. The resulting insights paint a picture of a system poised for profound change, prioritizing healing over punishment and empowerment over stigma. The results of the SOAR survey of approximately 85 stakeholders representing mental health and addiction treatment service providers and the advocacy community for justice-involved individuals are thematically represented as follows:
Comprehensive and Integrated Services: The Heart of the Platform
At the core of the emerging visionary policy platform lies a commitment to comprehensive and integrated services. Stakeholders emphasized the need for a seamless continuum of care that addresses the complex, interconnected challenges faced by justice-involved individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. This holistic approach spans from early intervention and diversion programs to comprehensive discharge planning and robust community reintegration support.
By weaving together housing assistance, employment services, healthcare access, and addiction treatment, it is hoped that a safety net that catches individuals before they fall through the cracks of a fragmented system will be created.
Empowering Seamless Care: The Hub-and-Spoke Network and Health Information Exchanges
A mental health system of care that embraces the national best practice hub-and-spoke network powered by robust Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) was also envisioned. This innovative approach aims to provide every justice-involved individual with mental health needs access to seamless, coordinated care that empowers their recovery and successful community reintegration.
The hub-and-spoke model, integrated with HIEs, offers several benefits:
- Comprehensive, person-centered treatment tailored to individual needs
- Continuity of care from correctional facilities to community settings
- Secure, rapid, and electronic transfer of health information among providers
- Enhanced emergency treatment through immediate access to critical information
- Improved diagnostic accuracy and treatment effectiveness
- Reduced recidivism by addressing underlying mental health issues effectively
- Promotion of dignity, hope, and resilience for individuals
- A collaborative ecosystem of mental health professionals, peer supporters, and community resources
- Data-driven approaches for continuous improvement of outcomes and accessibility
- Highest standards of data security and patient privacy
Collaboration and Community Involvement: A Cornerstone for Change
Recognizing that no single entity can solve these multifaceted challenges alone, stakeholders called for unprecedented levels of cooperation between the criminal justice system, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals with lived experiences. This collaborative ecosystem is envisioned as a powerful force for change, leveraging diverse expertise and resources to create innovative solutions and break down long-standing silos.
Wellness and Quality of Life: A Holistic Measure of Success
The pursuit of wellness and quality of life for justice-involved individuals took center stage in the SOAR discussions. Participants emphasized the need to move beyond narrow clinical outcomes and recidivism rates, advocating for a more holistic measure of success that encompasses overall well-being, community integration, and personal fulfillment. This shift in perspective recognizes that true recovery is about more than just managing symptoms – it’s about empowering individuals to lead meaningful, purpose-driven lives.
Access and Equity: Breaking Down Barriers to Care
Stakeholders highlighted the urgent need to break down barriers to care, particularly for marginalized and underserved communities. The proposed policy platform envisions a system where mental health and addiction services are readily available, culturally responsive, and tailored to meet the diverse needs of New Jersey’s population. This commitment to equity extends to all aspects of care, from crisis intervention and harm reduction strategies to long-term recovery support.
Education, Awareness, and De-stigmatization: Driving Systemic Change
Participants called for comprehensive public education campaigns, enhanced training for law enforcement and healthcare providers, and initiatives to amplify the voices of individuals with lived experiences. By fostering a culture of understanding and empathy, the aim is to create an environment where seeking help for mental health and addiction challenges is met with support rather than judgment.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability: Ensuring Effective Strategies
Stakeholders advocated for data-driven decision-making, continuous quality improvement, and transparent outcomes reporting. This commitment to accountability ensures that the proposed policy changes are not just well-intentioned ideas, but effective, evidence-based strategies that deliver tangible results for justice-involved individuals and communities.
Peer Support and Lived Experience: Invaluable Assets in Care
Recognizing the unique insights and credibility that peers bring to the table, stakeholders called for expanded roles for peer support specialists, mentors, and advocates throughout the continuum of services. This approach not only provides much-needed support to individuals in recovery but also helps to bridge the gap between service providers and the communities they serve.
Harm Reduction and Alternatives to Incarceration: A Compassionate Approach
Stakeholders envisioned a system that prioritizes treatment over punishment, offering diversion programs, crisis intervention teams, and community-based alternatives that address root causes rather than symptoms. This shift represents a more compassionate and effective approach to justice-involved individuals with mental health and addiction challenges.
Workforce Development and Training: Building a Skilled and Compassionate Team
Participants emphasized the need for a skilled, compassionate, and culturally competent workforce equipped to navigate the complex intersections of mental health, addiction, and criminal justice. Ongoing professional development, competitive compensation, and supportive work environments were identified as key strategies for attracting and retaining top talent in the field.
Sustainable Funding and Strategic Resource Allocation: Ensuring Long-Term Success
As New Jersey charts this new course, stakeholders recognize the importance of sustainable funding and strategic resource allocation. The proposed policy platform calls for innovative funding models, increased investment in evidence-based practices, and a commitment to long-term sustainability that ensures these vital services remain accessible for years to come.
Conclusion: A Model for Statewide Reform
The thematic results of the SOAR Forums and interviews paint a picture of a state poised for transformative change in its approach to mental health and addiction services for justice-involved individuals. By embracing comprehensive care, fostering collaboration, prioritizing wellness, and addressing systemic inequities, New Jersey is laying the groundwork for a more compassionate, effective, and just system.
The next step in the process is a Mental Health and Addiction Treatment for Justice-Involved Individuals Summit in which the stakeholder community will come together to plan specific policy changes and initiatives around each of the thematic policy areas. Using Appreciative Inquiry, participants in the summit will design and plan the key changes and initiatives that move these aforementioned aspirations to implementation. This process holds the promise that New Jersey will emerge as a national leader in integrated mental health care for justice-involved individuals, demonstrating that compassionate, coordinated care can transform lives, enhance public safety, and strengthen communities. The summit is presently in the planning stage and is anticipated to be scheduled sometime in October. If you wish to participate in the summit or would like to be contacted about it, please register your interest here.
James M. Davy, Ph.D. is a distinguished practitioner in residence at the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration and Momina Chaudhry is a graduate student pursuing a master of public affairs degree at the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration.