Deploying Services: An Informed Continuity of Care Project for Veterans

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Reentry and Integration Division seeks to obtain grant funds for two Human Service Specialists positions to deliver up to one hundred twenty (120) days of veteran informed case coordination services for up to 400 verified veteran offenders with a severe or persistent qualifying mental health diagnosis, to include co-occurring substance use disorders, with priority placement for higher criminogenic risk. A Program Supervisor will provide oversight of the program staff, ensure project fidelity and data integrity.    

The basic program components will focus on the identification of verified veteran inmates releasing to parole supervision and currently under parole supervision who also have an eligible mental illness. An evidence-based risk assessment will identify priority placement moderate to high criminogenic risk veteran offenders and provide additional support and case management services to the eligible veteran offenders, focusing on the identification of special needs, such as medical conditions requiring additional supports post release, employment which correlates with existing skills and knowledge, housing and mental health referral services, skills training, psychosocial rehabilitation, and other community readiness/reentry activities. 

The Human Services Specialists will ensure all required service and mental health related records are obtained with appropriate linkages made for both mental health and substance use treatment needs as well as other identified needs as part of continuity of care planning. Further, they will monitor the veteran offender’s progress and work closely with the receiving Local Mental Health Authority TCOOMMI program to ensure veteran informed services addressing veteran specific needs are provided and inclusive of veteran entities such as Department of Veteran Affairs and other veteran specific resources.

TCOOMMI funded mental health services are provided through well-established contractual relationships with the local mental health authorities which cover each county in the state, with psychiatric medication services, aftercare service coordination, joint treatment planning (with criminal justice agencies, social services, health and human service agencies and other appropriate disciplines), and benefits eligibility services and applications provided at no cost to referred offenders. 

The planning phase will be completed within one year and will include measurable performance outcomes relating to the long-term goals of increasing public safety and realizing a 5% reduction of the current recidivism rate for the target population after three years.