FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Christine Mulvin
513-458-6621

Cincinnati— October 25, 2005—Seven area organizations have been awarded grants totaling $991,310 in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in an effort to reduce the number of those with mental illness or substance use disorders in the criminal justice system.

"Prison and jail populations have increased fivefold since 1970,” said Donald Hoffman, president and CEO of the Health Foundation. “Prisoners have four times the rate of mental disorders and seven times the rate of substance use disorders than the general population. The deinstitutionalization of people with severe mental illnesses and mandatory sentences for drug offenses are some causes for this increase.”

Health Foundation Program Officer Janice Bogner explained, “The majority of offenders with behavioral health disorders—mental illnesses and substance use disorders—are returned to the community without having received effective in-prison treatment for their disorders and without reentry plans that connect them to community services and support. As a result, many find themselves back within the criminal justice system, creating a revolving door syndrome that is costly in both economic and societal terms.”

This RFP is aimed at combining the criminal justice system and the behavioral health systems to better respond to the needs of people with behavioral health disorders who become involved with the criminal justice system and prevent them from becoming repeat offenders.

The seven recipients are:

• Cincinnati Union Bethel: $296,000.  This three-year grant will allow Cincinnati Union Bethel (CUB) to implement the “Off the Streets Project,” a diversion service for women engaged in prostitution and men who solicit prostitution in Hamilton County. The grant funds staff salaries and benefits; education and training; supplies; and software.  CUB estimates it will serve 275 women and 275 men over the three year grant period. For additional information, please contact: Mary Carol Melton, 513.678.6905.

• Talbert House: $293,000.  This three-year grant will allow Talbert House to provide intensive case management for ex-offenders with substance use disorders and mental illnesses in Warren County. The grant funds will provide salaries and benefits for two full-time case workers and the equipment, supplies and travel for the project along with the cost of a consultant to continue the collaborative meetings. The team will serve 300 offenders with substance use disorders and mental illnesses released from the state prisons to Warren County. For additional information, contact: Mary E. Spottswood, 513.933.9304.

• Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services: $195,000.  This 18-month $195,000 grant will allow Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services to expand Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) services to people with severe mental illnesses who are involved with the criminal justice system.The grant will partially fund the salaries and benefits of three clinical positions, psychiatrist time, local travel and equipment as well as flexible funds to help with emergency client needs. For additional information, contact:  Jeff Kirschner, 513.354.7500.

• Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center: $162,500.  This three-year $162,500 grant will allow Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center to implement the ACT model to its already successful Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) model for clients with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders.  This program is specifically for individuals re-entering Highland and Fayette counties from the criminal justice system. This grant will provide half of the salaries and benefits for a full-time nurse and a full-time licensed social worker or counselor, additional psychiatrist hours, consultation from the Ohio Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Coordinating Center of Excellence (SAMI CCOE), local travel, conference travel and registration fees, equipment, office supplies and flexible funds to help with emergency client needs such as food and clothing.  For additional information, contact: Lynn Goff, 937-981-7702.

• Kentucky Department of Corrections: $65,000.  This one-year $65,000 grant will allow the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDOC) to plan services for returning offenders who have mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This grant will help KDOC identify and develop resources for offenders with mental illnesses and substance use disorders who are returning to Northern Kentucky from incarceration. Foundation funds will cover a project coordinator, fees and travel associated with visits from successful programs, local and conference travel, copying and postage. For additional information, contact:  Kevin Pangburn, 502-564-2220

• Horizon Services: $45,000.  This six-month $45,000 grant will allow Horizon Services to plan expanded diversion services and a supported employment component to the program at the Butler County Substance Abuse/Mental Illness (SAMI) Court. The grant will help Horizon Services add eight more diversion slots and increase treatment staff to handle these additional cases. For additional information, contact:  Christopher Connolly, 513-424-1193.

• The Counseling Center: $44,700.   This one-year $44,700 grant will allow The Counseling Center to plan a diversion program for offenders with substance use disorders in Adams and Scioto Counties. The grant will go to fund a needs assessment to determine the best community solutions and cover the salary and benefits for a part-time project coordinator, meetings, supplies and surveys during the planning period.  For additional information, contact: T. Edward Hughes, 740-354-3829

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 $10.5 million to support local health care programs that address the objectives of the Foundation's four focus areas and general community health.