The oklahoma department of mental health and substance abuse services (odmhsas), as lead agency, will partner with grand mental health (grand) for the second chance outcome-based project reentry…

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) was awarded $1,000,000 under the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative (CFDA 16.812) federal grant program for a 54-month project period ending March 31, 2027. The funding will support ODMHSAS and sub-awardee Grand Lake Mental Health Center Inc. to deliver individualized reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals with mental health and substance use disorders in 12 rural Oklahoma counties. Services will include transitional housing, case management, employment and education support, group therapy, outpatient substance use treatment, medical services, and individual therapy. The goal is to reduce recidivism and connect participants to long-term support networks to successfully reintegrate into their communities. Outcomes such as establishing coordinated referral systems and decreasing recidivism rates will be monitored.

The oklahoma department of mental health and substance abuse services (odmhsas), as lead agency, will partner with grand mental health (grand) for the second chance outcome-based project reentry services in twelve northeast rural oklahoma counties. This project will reduce recidivism and address the substance use and mental health disorders impacting formerly incarcerated people. Our lead partner for second chance project is grand. Odmhsas and grand will build upon their strong relationship with oklahoma department of corrections to ensure that individualized reentry services are available for individuals leaving incarceration. Grand will also work closely with odmhsas RE-entry staff who are embedded in nine DOC correctional facilities to provide RE-entry connections to individuals with mental health and substance abuse conditions. As part of this discharge planning, grand will provide supported transitional living through a scattered site model for these reentry individuals while connecting them to an array of support and treatment services to include but not limited to case management, individual placement and support (supported employment and education), seeking safety groups, outpatient SUD, soar, mat, AOT, cwic, social activities, nursing/medical services, and individual/group therapy. Our main mission is to enhance our outcome-based contract to reduce recidivism and address substance abuse disorders impacting formerly incarcerated individuals through individualized reentry services. Key outcomes to achieve are to establish a coordinated referral system improve permanent connections and natural supports to lead healthy, successful lives in the community; increase linkages to safe, affordable housing; and decrease recidivism rates. Participants will be monitored post-graduation to ensure their continued success in employment, stable housing, meeting recovery goals, and criminal justice system involvement. We know the importance of this project in filling the gaps so that reentering oklahomans with a history of mental health and substance abuse do not exit into homelessness. The collaborative work that odmhsas, DOC and grand has demonstrated with our current private-public partnership with the support of metafund is setting the foundation for what reentry should look like in oklahoma. Its initial success connecting vulnerable populations to housing and support services made evident that enhancing these efforts is vital to improve the lives of those individuals leaving the criminal justice system with behavioral health and substance abuse disorders. This application is for an award of $1,00,000 for 54 months will allow this effort to continue.