Department of Corrections: Continuity of Care Study

Publication Date: 6/1/2005

Description:

A significant problem for persons released from prison who have mental health or substance abuse treatment needs pertains to maintaining continuity in their mental health and or substance abuse treatment after they are released from prison. After their return to the community, it is anticipated that they continue to need treatment; however, such treatment is necessarily provided by a new provider (or set of providers) that is usually funded by a separate state agency. Problems with untreated mental health and/or substance use disorders may increase the risk of recidivism and hospitalization for persons released from prison.

This study used multiple administrative data sets to examine continuity of care for persons with behavioral health treatment needs who were released from Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) prisons and to identify factors that may be associated with problems in continuity of care. The focus of this study was on public sector mental health and substance abuse services. It was anticipated that a large majority of persons released from prison who receive behavioral health services would obtain such services from public sector providers. Probabilistic case matching techniques were used to determine which persons from the cohort had data in several administrative data sets pertaining to public sector mental health and substance abuse services in Florida indicating that they had received such services. Problems with continuity of care were evaluated by examining the latency of onset of mental health or substance abuse treatment in the community and indicators of problematic events/outcomes. These indicators included adverse behavioral health events such as Baker Act involuntary examinations and admissions to community hospitals, emergency rooms, crisis stabilization units, and detoxification facilities, as