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DONNA HARRISON COMMUNITY RELEASE UNIT SUPERVISOR VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ACADEMY FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT MAY 10, 2016 Reducing Homelessness & Recidivism Summit: Connecting the Homelessness & Criminal Justice Systems
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Community Release Unit *Types of Releases *About 14,000 offenders released each year *Growing number of GTRD/no parole law cases being released *Increase in number of homeless offenders being released *Increased need for specialized caseloads
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Who are the homeless ex-offenders? Females/males Young adults/elderly Healthy/physically disabled Substance Abusers Mentally ill Intellectually Disabled Non-violent/violent Sex offenders
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Why are ex-offenders homeless? Limited financial resources to help pay for cost of housing Offenders do not qualify for many housing assistance programs or low income housing Limited housing resources for individuals with a criminal history
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Additional housing barriers for medically and/or mentally disabled offenders Decrease in assisted living facilities Shrinking number of Medicaid/AG beds in assisted living facilities Nursing homes moving towards rehab care from hospital to home; lack of long term beds or long waiting lists Criminal history
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What is DOC doing? DOC Reentry Planning Institutional Counselor-primary coordinator for reentry planning in correctional facilities; other transitional staff assist with planning (Reentry Specialist, Reentry PO, OWDS) Release planning begins at reception Pre-release benefits application process Identity and employment documents process Medical and mental health discharge planning Housing placement assistance
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Discharge Planning policies, MOUs, MOAs DOC Reentry Planning policy DSS Medicaid pre-release application policy DOC, SSA, DRS MOA for SSI pre-release application processing DOC, DSS, DARS MOU
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DOC Discharge Planning and Community Collaborations * DSS-Medicaid application processing, UAI screenings, APS/AS, homeless services *SSA-SSI application processing, Social Security cards *Veterans benefits *CSB and private mental health providers-intake appointments, intensive case management services, crisis services * DME providers, dialysis centers
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DOC Discharge Planning and Community Collaborations *Community Residential Programs (CRPs) and private housing providers partnerships with Probation & Parole Districts *Governor’s Special Needs Workgroup *DMV ID program *Workforce development centers, resource fairs
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Community Reentry Specialists Secure housing placements for homeless individuals being released from correctional facilities Ensure identification documents have been requested Ensure durable medical equipment is available at release and special transportation is arranged Monitor and provide technical assistance for pre-release benefit application process (SSI & Medicaid) Make arrangements for screenings (UAI) to be conducted to determine the level of care needed for ALF or NH placement Work with medical and mental health staff, and counselors at the DOC facility to ensure medical/mental health information is relayed, follow- up appointments are made, and release medications provided Secure placement of disabled offenders into ALF or nursing homes
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With supportive housing in place ….. Communities are safer Decrease in recidivism Better coordination of medical and/or mental health care Decrease in use of emergency services-hospital/ER visits
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Successes/Positives Serve as mentors or leaders in re-entry and transitional housing programs, and substance abuse treatment programs Network with employers Utilize job skills Apply education Give back to the community by being successful, active citizens and maintaining a healthy lifestyle
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Contact Donna Harrison Community Release Unit Supervisor DOC Headquarters-Community Release Unit 6900 Atmore Drive Richmond, Va. 23225 (804) 887-8163 donna.harrison@vadoc.virginia.gov
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