Service Delivery Models - A Summary of Examples (From Mental Health Services in Local Jails - Report of a Special National Workshop, P 34-68, 1982, Christopher S Dunn and Henry J Steadman, ed. - See NCJ-85919)

• NCJ Number: 85921
• Author(s): C H Morgan
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 35 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-85919

Annotation

An exploratory nationwide survey of jails with mental health programs confirmed a basic information gap among these institutions but yielded seven patterns of model programs, proving that mental health services can be successfully provided to jail inmates, regardless of facility, budget, or personnel constraints.

Abstract

A total of 193 initial requests for program descriptions were sent in 1978 to jails identified as having mental health programs; 97 responses were obtained, 16 of which indicated having no such program. Data analysis of the remaining 81 institutions used contingency tables with size of jail (less than 50 inmates; between 50 to 499; over 500) and program budget (less than $50,000 for mental health per annum to over $200,000) as independent variables. Larger jails, reflecting urban proximity to reform activities and legal assistance programs, were likely to have established programs in response to litigation or court orders. Provision of funding was the program impetus for 39 percent of large jails and for 18 percent of small institutions. Some small jails have compensated for their restricted budgets by contracting services from local mental health agencies. Small jails reported an underrepresentation of mentally ill inmates, reflecting their practice of transferring such persons to other facilities. Seven model programs, examined upon subsequent site visits, were selected for being well-operated and of varying sizes, resources, treatment philosophies, and management policies and procedures. Each demonstrates how obstacles can be overcome if mental health delivery is pursued with determination and innovative approaches. One model illustrates how services were provided at no additional cost either to the jail or the mental health center; others illustrate how supplemental grant budgets were secured to initiate programs. None of the model programs is based in a jail facility designed to incorporate mental health services; yet, they have been able to establish institutionalized service provision. Similarly, all the models have overcome the difficulty of finding and keeping professional staff. Tabular data, nine references, and the survey instrument are given.