20: Planning Continuity of Care
Prepare community-based health and treatment providers, prior to the release of an individual, to receive that person and to ensure that he or she receives uninterrupted services and supports upon his or her return community.
Overview
Research Highlights
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Treatment regimens begun in prison or jail must often be continued upon release to be effective.
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Transition planning for continued care upon release is a major problem.
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Engaging community-based providers to offer services to inmates is an important strategy that shows promise in reducing the adverse affects of the complex health problems of inmates.
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New partnerships around mental health services show promise in improving mental health, recidivism, and cost outcomes.
Recommendations
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Prepare a summary health record containing information about important medical problems, prior diagnostic studies, allergies, and medications for each person released from prison or jail prior to his or her release.
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Connect prisoners to treatment and health care providers in the community prior to their release to prevent gaps in treatment and services.
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Provide prisoners receiving medications with a sufficient interim supply of essential medications upon their discharge into the community.
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Educate people in prison and jail about continuity of care and provide them with the summary health record and other important medical records prior to discharge.
Related Policy Statements
Our Publications
The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center announced today the release of the toolkit, Planning and Assessing a Law Enforcement Reentry Strategy. With support by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the kit has been designed as a guide and self-assessment tool for policing personnel and their partners to help reduce repeat crimes and facilitate successful reintegration by the more than 700,000 individuals who return to our communities from prisons each year and the more than 9 million from jails.
Related Information
Issue Area:
Physical and Mental Health
Issue Area:
Reentry and Physical Health
Issue Area:
Reentry and Substance Abuse
Issue Area:
Reentry and Mental Health
Issue Area:
Reentry and Federal Benefits

