Two researchers from the NAU’s Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) recently completed an independent study of the Yavapai County Detention Center Reach Out program to evaluate characteristics of inmates after the first year of a three-year program.
Dr. George Pro, a postdoctoral fellow with CHER and Dr. Ricky Camplain, an assistant professor in Health Sciences and CHER, found that more than 4,800 incarcerated individuals have interacted with Reach Out coordinators. Many of the program participants demonstrated characteristics that put them at increased risk for recidivism.
Reach Out is designed to connect people with mental health diagnoses and substance abuse disorders to treatment following their release from the Yavapai County jail. The goal of the Reach Out Initiative is to improve cross-system collaborations to reduce involvement in the justice system.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the goals of Reach Out is to connect individuals with life-saving resources that:
- Transition inmates into appropriate mental health and substance use treatment
- Enhance communication between courts, pretrial services, attorneys, probation and local behavioral health services
- Offer access to recovery support, benefits, housing and employment services
Reach Out was is funded by a $500,000 grant over three years through the governor’s office. The project is also funded by a $250,000 grant from the Department of Justice and $224,290 through legislative funding.
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