Course Summary
Practice Level: Intermediate
Mental health conditions and substance use disorders are overrepresented in criminal justice settings. The consequences of incarceration are severe for individuals living with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders and their reentry to the community is especially complex. While incarcerated they are more likely to face punishment and have traumatic experiences. Upon release, they face great risks for homelessness and unemployment, rearrest, and death from overdose or suicide. Positive outcomes for this population are associated with multi-disciplinary approaches that include behavioral health personnel.
This learning material is based on SAMHSA’s Best Practices for Successful Reentry from Criminal Justice Settings for People Living with Mental Health Conditions and/or Substance Use Disorders. Designed for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists, it presents evidence-based interventions and outcomes that can assist providers in supporting individuals reentering the community from jail or prison. The learning material explores the context of incarceration on mental health conditions and substance use disorders, describes current evidence-based practices (EBPs) for individuals reentering the community, and presents evaluation approaches to assess interventions. Practical information to address reentry among this population and examples of organizations implementing EBPs are provided to enhance key learning points.
Course Format
This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the effects that mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders (SUD) have on individuals who are in the criminal justice system or reentering the community after incarceration.
- Identify the challenges that individuals with mental health conditions or SUD face with reentry into their communities after incarceration.
- Describe interventions with a strong evidence base of improving reentry outcomes for individuals living with mental health conditions and/or SUD.
- Apply evidence-based strategies that address key considerations of implementing reentry programs.
- Differentiate the approaches and outcomes of reentry programs that have implemented evidence-based interventions for individuals reentering the community after incarceration.
- Describe approaches to evaluation of reentry from criminal justice settings programs, including evaluation types, quality assessments, and process and outcome measures.
Course Syllabus
Foreword: Evidence Based Resource Guide Series Overview
Chapter 1: Issue Brief
Chapter 2: What Research Tells Us
Chapter 3: Guidance for Identifying and Implementing Evidence-Based Practices to Support Reentry
Chapter 4: Examples of Organizations Implementing Evidence-Based Interventions
Chapter 5: Guidance and Resources for Evaluation
Authors
SAMHSA
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA leads public health efforts that advance the behavioral health of the nation. On samhsa.gov SAMHSA states that its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on communities in America.
William A. Cook, PhD
William A. Cook, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who worked for 15 years in private practice in Montana before leaving his practice to work full time as theDirector of CE4Less. He earned his doctorate degree from Texas A&M University, and focused much of his psychology practice in the area of child and family counseling, as well as psychological testing.
Accreditation Approval Statements
CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.
Social workers completing this course receive 2 general continuing education credits.
CE4Less.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6991. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE4Less.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Level Education Group, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0835.
