FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2005

Contact: Christine Mulvin
513-458-6621

The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati awarded a $175,000 grant over three years to Community Mental Health Center, Inc. (CMHC) to improve the services offered to and the health outcomes of individuals with substance use and mental health disorders who are involved in the criminal justice systems in rural southeastern Indiana. Foundation funds will pay for the position of a "boundary spanner", who will coordinate work between the behavioral health and criminal justice systems for Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland Counties.

A survey of adults incarcerated in the Dearborn County Jail revealed that 85% were incarcerated on charges related to their mental health or substance use disorder, 41% had received mental health treatment prior to incarceration, 38% had received substance use disorder treatment prior to incarceration, and 53% had been incarcerated at least one other time in the Dearborn County Jail.

"A lack of availability and access to services are two things that frequently contribute to individuals entering and remaining in the criminal justice system," said Ann B. Perrin, Program Officer of the Health Foundation. "A boundary spanner can develop the infrastructure that these counties need to coordinate care so that people involved in the criminal justice system receive appropriate treatment services."

The boundary spanner will coordinate training across systems for behavioral health and criminal justice professionals, develop assessment and care coordination activities, assist in developing appropriate collaborative services for offenders and work to sustain the services.

"This initiative will further assist collaboration in the five counties to improve our ability to address the mental health and substance abuse needs of people involved in the criminal justice system," said John Mallery, Director of Outpatient Services for CMHC.

For more information about CMHC, call at 812-537-1302.

The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati is an independent foundation dedicated to improving community health and access to health care for vulnerable populations. The Foundation awards grants to non-profit and governmental organizations for selected health programs and activities in Cincinnati and 20 surrounding counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In 2004, the Health Foundation invested approximately $10.5 million to support local health care programs that address the objectives of the Foundation's four focus areas and general community health.