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Initiatives
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Correctional Health Services (CHS) provides medical services for over 7,000 patients in 6 jails. 4 of those jails have Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) certification.
Continuity Methadone Treatment
Estrella, Lower Buckeye, Towers, and 4th Avenue jails currently provide continuity methadone treatment for patients who were already enrolled in a methadone program in the community, prior to arrest.
Because of this, patients no longer need to have their methadone stopped when they get arrested, likely reducing relapses of opioid abuse, upon release to the community. In addition, methadone is provided to pregnant patients who are opioid dependent, in order to protect the fetus.
Court Collaboration
CHS also works in collaboration with the drug courts to offer Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to patients suffering from opioid dependence, in which those at high risk for opioid relapse are started on methadone in jail.
The Opioid Treatment Program includes administration of methadone, mental health counseling, and discharge planning.
All of these components are integral to a successful program, in an effort to prevent future relapse on opioids.
Smart Justice
Correctional Health Services (CHS) is a member of the Smart Justice Committee which is composed of various County justice agency partners and representation from Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care.
Smart Justice has adopted working goals to reduce recidivism back to the criminal justice system for individuals with moderate to high risk to recidivate and to reduce length of stay in jail for low risk individuals booked into jail.
Two Smart Justice goals specifically address these aims for the Serious Mental Illness designated population.
Stepping Up
Stepping Up is a national initiative to rally national, state and local leaders around the goal to reduce criminal justice involvement, especially jail and prison time, for individuals dealing with serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
Maricopa County signed a Stepping Up Proclamation in May 2015 and was one of 50 Counties selected to attend the National Stepping Up Summit in April 2016.
Adopted Practices
Correctional Health Services (CHS) has adopted practices to identify these individuals at the initial stages of booking to explore every opportunity to reduce criminal justice involvement for this population.
Our practices include:
- Continuing and coordinating care from and with community providers
- Prioritizing community transition planning
- Targeting and addressing the risk factors that lead to recidivism
- Developing baseline data so we can track outcomes and measure our success or need to improve our practices to reach the goal
We engage in collaborative “Stepping Up” efforts in the community with other behavioral health agencies, family advocates and interested stakeholders to better share information and to advocate for the needs of vulnerable populations to reduce unnecessary criminal justice involvement.
Substance Abuse
Correctional Health Services (CHS) is implementing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) recommended Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (S-BIRT) system.
All individuals who remain in custody past Initial Appearance receive a health assessment which includes evidence based alcohol and drug screening questions. CHS aims to provide further substance abuse assessment to moderate to high needs individuals to determine the need for substance abuse programming in jail and referral to community treatment.
CHS staff work to provide brief interventions to individuals with substance abuse problems to create awareness and increase motivation for change.
Trauma Informed Care
Correctional Health Services (CHS) provides training to staff regarding the prevalence of trauma exposure in an incarcerated population.
Clinical Care Guidelines for treating trauma survivors have been adopted and implemented. CHS is a trauma informed care facility.