Reentry Policy Council

Keys to Federal Benefits Access

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Key 4
Continuity of Care

Transfer information about benefit applications to relevant community agencies and ensure that individuals can access services after release if benefit decisions are pending.

Recommendation

B	Provide information on benefit applications to community service providers or other relevant agencies so that these entities can monitor application status and benefit enrollment.

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Related Examples

The following examples illustrate how some jurisdictions have implemented this recommendation. By highlighting certain examples in this chart, however, the Justice Center is not promoting them as "best practices." They are simply efforts that involve partnerships, resourcefulness, or even longtime practices for other communities to consider.

Adult Probation Department Mental Health Unit (Ill.)

The Mental Health Unit of the Cook County Adult Probation Department is staffed with probation officers trained on mental health issues. They are qualified to assist probationers in obtaining disability and other benefits and to serve as advocates for probationers seeking mental health treatment, among other functions.

Source: http://consensusproject.org/the_report/toc/ch-III/ps16-modification-probation.

Rikers Island Single Stop Center (N.Y.)

The Rikers Island Single Stop Center, overseen by the Center for Urban Community Services, provides benefit assistance to individuals leaving Rikers Island jail. In particular, staff of the single stop center help applicants determine eligibility for various benefit programs and complete applications.

Source: http://www.cucs.org/sites/sitepage.php?sitetext=riss.htm.

CORP Program (N.Y.)

In 2003, a 30-bed Community Oriented Re-entry Program (CORP) was opened at Sing Sing Correctional Facility to assist inmates with serious mental illness in their transition to the community. The CORP program contracts with the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), an outside agency, to help prepare applications for Social Security Benefits, Medicaid, and other entitlement programs for eligible CORP participants. Once completed, applications are forwarded to New York State Link, a transition case management program based out of the New York Office of Mental Health, which provides services to individuals with serious mental illness. New York State Link monitors the application processing and coordinates between multiple benefit agencies.

Source: Personal communication with Mike Steinbacher, clinical psychologist at the Community Oriented Re-entry Program (CORP), March 22, 2007, and http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/statewideplan/2005/chapter5.htm.

Community Mental Health Centers (Okla.)

The Oklahoma Department of Mental health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) funded four community mental health centers (CMHCs) to provide intensive case management services to individuals with serious mental illnesses being released from three Department of Corrections facilities. Staff of these CMHCs are specially trained to assist these individuals in completing and submitting applications for SSI/SSDI, Medicaid, and other benefits.

Source: Personal communication with Bob Mann, Coordinator of Clinical Social Work Services Oklahoma Department of Corrections, March 5, 2007.