Individuals under the U.S. probation system have higher incidences of health conditions including substance abuse and mental illness and are less likely to access health care and other social services, such as education, transportation, employment, and housing, than those not involved in the system. To investigate the process and impact of implementing a multi-agency “Culture of Health” team in the Delaware Department of Probation, the study combines the efforts of multiple agencies working across traditionally siloed systems, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing, Education, and Correction. To evaluate this novel mechanism for integrating the delivery and financing systems for criminal justice probation services, medical care, employment, housing and other support services for justice-involved adults the principal investigators are:

• Testing the efficacy of using the Change Team approach to leverage different financing systems (e.g., Medicaid and private insurance) and service coordination (e.g., health care, education, and job training)
• Providing education, screening, testing and referrals for  follow-up services to the probation population

Methodology:
Using a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, this study will test the efficacy of using the Change Team approach to leverage different financing systems and service coordination.

Principal Investigators:
Daniel J. O’Connell, PhD, MA
Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Center for Drug & Health Studies, University of Delaware

Christy Visher, PhD
Professor, University of Delaware
Director, Center for Drug & Health Studies

Project Details

Year: 2016
Funding Amount: $249,990
Status: Inactive