Title
Community- Based Mental Health Services Agreement with Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC).
Body
Recommended Action: Approve the agreement and authorize the Chairman to sign.
Background: The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) has provided a grant to COMCARE for a Corrections Liaison Specialist for the last several years. As many as 30% of the 1,100 offenders released to Sedgwick County from Kansas correctional facilities require mental health care upon their release. The grant funds a staff person for the following functions:
1- Provide care coordination services to offenders preparing for release from Kansas prisons in person, by video, phone, and/or email; working with discharge planners, risk reduction and reentry (R3) staff, and unit team counselors to deliver the services covered by this agreement; ensure access to treatment upon release has been arranged and secured; acting as liaison to COMCARE to help set up these treatment services, and coordinating the subsequent delivery; continue to engage offenders through short-term case management services and follow up.
2- Participate in multi-discipline team meetings with parole/reentry staff, and any other treatment provider, peer mentor, or other person working with the offender on his/her reentry/reintegration and risk reduction efforts, to provide input into case planning and ensure all COMCARE services are available to the offender; update parole officers/reentry case managers regarding the mental health needs of offenders.
3- Assist offenders and Corrections staff in identifying and accessing peer mentoring, housing, and other community resources as necessary.
This community-based agreement allows the KDOC liaison (a COMCARE employee) to be located within KDOC at the 212 S. Market Wichita, KS location. The KDOC liaison collaborates with the Parole officers in the Wichita location and provides services to clients currently on parole. Locating the KDOC liaison within the KDOC bui...
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