Transcript Reentry Coordination System (RCS) An Overview Presented by: Suzanne Smith Director of CUCS’ Housing Resource Center Funded by Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness.

Reentry Coordination System (RCS)
An Overview
Presented by: Suzanne Smith
Director of CUCS’ Housing Resource Center
Funded by Projects for Assistance in Transition
from Homelessness (PATH)
December 9, 2010
About CUCS
•Founded in 1979 at Columbia University
•Programs include:
• Housing Resource Center
• Training and Consulting Services
• Direct Service Programs: Street outreach & drop-in center, transitional &
permanent housing, Single Stop, supported employment services, Project for
Psychiatric Outreach to the Homeless
•CUCS Training and Consulting Services offers
assistance with implementing WSM and other
evidence-based practices
Community Re-Integration Project:
Background and Goals
• Began in 2005 as Prison Entitlements Project using
SSI Outreach Access and Recovery (SOAR)
• Goal: For Severely Mentally Ill inmates to receive
benefits (SSI, Medicaid and Medication Grant
Program) within one month of release to help
prevent homelessness
• Move to Community Re-Integration to include
housing and aftercare services (Case Management)
• 2009-Reentry Coordination System (RCS) developed
NYS Prisons with Mental Health/Satellite Units
Clinton
Upstate
Albion
Wende
Attica
Midstate
Great
Meadow
Auburn
5 Point
Groveland
Coxsackie
Green
Haven
Downstate
Elmira
Satellite Units
Mental Health Units
Sullivan
Fishkill
Bedford
Sing Sing Hills
Arthurkill
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Discharge/Release Data
• 29 NYS Correctional Facilities with Mental
Health/Satellite Units
• 3,500 discharges in 2009 of which 1,400 to New
York City
• 622/1400 severely mentally ill individuals
discharged to NYC
• Context:
 DOCS census: 60,000
 DOCS releases: 25,000/year
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Entitlements Project Overview
• In July of 2005, CUCS began working with staff at
Sing Sing CF, Community Orientation Reentry
Program (CORP) to design the entitlement liaison’s
services
• In September of 2005, CUCS began to provide
entitlements assistance services
• CUCS liaison is on site one day a week and works with
OMH staff to prepare SSI/D and Medicaid applications
CORP Outcomes (9/05-6/30/10)
188 Applications
15 % (n=29) closed prior to Disposition (hospitalized or not released)
12 % (n=26) Pending/In Process
136 Dispositions
 88% (n=120) Approved Dispositions
15% Closed prior to disposition (hospitalized or not
released)
 100% (n=126) Medicaid approvals
 100% (n=1) Veterans Benefits
 99% (n=96) Supportive Housing approvals
Overview: Reentry Coordination System (RCS)
• Implemented in July 2009
• Manages the housing referral process for severely mentally ill
(SMI) individuals in NYS Prisons being released to NYC
• November 2010 expansion: Referrals to mental health case
management/ACT services
• January 2011 expansion to include OPD mental health
treatment appointments for those without an appointment
• Tracking outcomes
The Role of the
Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS)
• CUCS Administers the RCS Program for the New York State
Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH)
• The RCS Liaison handles all referrals for supportive housing
from the NYS Prisons for Severely Mentally Ill (SMI) individuals
• RCS Liaison provides referrals for housing (forensic housing
initiative units or MH housing)
• Assists the housing provider and the NYSOMH Pre-Release
Coordinator (PRC) through the referral process
• Follows up with Housing Providers on Status
• Documents and tracks information
RCS Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for RCS, the individual:
• Must be in a NYS Prison and being released to NYC
• Must meet The New York State Office of Mental
Health’s Severe Mental Illness (SMI) criteria
• Homeless or at risk of homelessness upon release
from prison
Overview of NYC Mental Health Housing for
Reentry Population
•75 Reentry Housing Initiative (RHI) units
•90 additional RHI units expected in 2011
•200 units SMI individuals from state prisons are
one of the priority populations
•Other MH housing: 7,100 units (not including units
dedicated to homeless mentally ill)
Key Features of RCS
• Guaranteed Interview (Videoconference)
• Training & Technical Assistance to PreRelease Coordinators (PRC’s) and
Housing Providers
• Case Planning Meetings when rejected
by 3 providers
• Enhanced Services Funding
RCS Process
• PRC submits NYC Supportive Housing Application
• CUCS arranges the VTC interviews
• Housing Provider sends interview disposition to
CUCS within 5 days of interview
• CUCS informs PRC of dispositions
• PRC informs applicant/inmate
RCS Process (cont’d)
•If accepted, PRC coordinates with housing
provider about move in date/arrangements
•If rejected, CUCS informs PRC
•If rejected by all referrals:
 case conference
 additional referrals
 enhanced services funding
Demographics of RCS Applicants
(7/1/09-6/30/10)
• 158 Applications Received:
• Axis I :
54% Psychotic Disorders
39% Affective Disorders
7% Other
74% Substance Abuse Disorder (secondary dx)*
Axis II:
29% Anti-Social PD
6% Dual Dx with Cognitive/Developmental
Disability
*98% History of Substance Abuse Disorder
Demographics (7/1/09-6/30/10)
Age of 1st Hospitalization:
23% before 15 yrs
24% 15-20 yrs
Less than HS Diploma:
Age at Release:
62%
6%
18-25
17%
26-34
52%
35-49
25%
over 50
Preliminary Outcomes (7/1/09-6/30/10)
156 Applications Received (427 Referrals). Current status
as of 10/31/2010 :
• 89 (57%)
Housed, of which 77 in Supportive Housing
• 12 (8%)
State PC admissions
• 7 (4%)
Released to Shelter
• 12 (77%)
In Process/Waitlisted
• 36 (23%) Refused Housing Referrals/Whereabouts
Unknown including (1) Incarceration
Lessons Learned: Keys to Success
• Strength-based documentation
• Case Management upon release to assist with
coordination of benefits, interviews where applicable and
developing supports
• Provide referral assistance until housed or case is closed
• Training and technical assistance, especially on cases
with multiple barriers
• Involve Correctional Facility MD’s and administrators on
documentation requirements
Questions?
Presented by:
Suzanne Smith, Director
Center for Urban Community Services
Housing Resource Center
198 East 121st Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10035
(212) 801-3371
[email protected]
www.cucs.org