Novation Offender Reentry Program

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities, including resources to address the myriad needs of these offenders to achieve a successful return to their communities. Section 201 of the Second Chance Act authorizes the Second Chance Act Reentry Demonstration Program Targeting Offenders with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Program, which is designed to provide treatment and recovery support services to offenders during incarceration and after their return to the community. This section specifically addresses the treatment needs of offenders who have substance abuse disorders and authorizes grants to states, units of local government, territories, and Indian tribes to improve the provision of drug treatment to offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities during the period of incarceration and through the completion of parole or other court supervision after release into the community.

The term co-occurring disorders (COD) refers to co-occurring substance-related and mental disorders. Clients said to have COD have one or more substance-related disorders as well as one or more mental disorders. At the individual level, COD exist when at least one disorder of each type can be established independent of the other and is not simply a cluster of symptoms resulting from [a single] disorder. Projects will implement or expand offender treatment programs for re-entering offenders with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Programs should require urinalysis and/or other proven reliable forms of drug and alcohol testing for program participants, including both periodic and random testing, and for former participants while they remain in the custody, or under community supervision, of the state, local, or tribal government.

Washington County Community Corrections (WCCC), in partnership with CODA, Incorporated, will use grant funds for the Novation program, which offers a new start for offenders re-entering the community who have co-occurring disorders. The grant of $598,570 will provide Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment for 120 offenders who have been diagnosed with mental health and substance abuse disorders. The project targets high-risk offenders, and is supported by Oregon's Single State Authority.

The Novation project will specifically meet priority consideration as it demonstrates effective case management and assessment abilities that provide a continuous and comprehensive reentry process. This is demonstrated by the project's use of evidence-based screening and evaluation tools that target criminogenic needs, provision of affordable clean and sober housing, comprehensive pre- and post-release planning procedures, community linkage through on-going support of peer recovery mentors and provision of evidence-based Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment that begins while offenders are in custody and continues as they reenter the community. The primary goal of the Novation project is to successfully transition offenders with mental health and addiction concerns to the community as demonstrated by reduced recidivism, increased successful completion of probation/parole, and decreased alcohol and other drug abuse. The project will serve 60 offenders per year (120 over two years) assessed as high-risk and who have at least 30-45 days remaining in the Washington County Community Corrections Center.

CA/NCF