Improving Continuity of Care for Justice-Involved Individuals: Lessons from the Field (On-Demand)-Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar "Improving Continuity of Care for Justice-Involved Individuals" highlighted the opioid crisis within jails and prisons, focusing on evidence-based treatments and seamless care transitions. Ed Hayes described Franklin County Jail's evolution from offering limited treatment to becoming a methadone clinic integrated with buprenorphine induction at booking. He stressed the importance of collaboration with community providers to support individuals transitioning back to society, addressing the high risk of overdose post-release due to lowered tolerance.<br /><br />Rachel Katz detailed three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD): methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, emphasizing their varied uses and delivery methods. She outlined the trauma-informed, multidisciplinary care model used both in jail and community settings, including nurse-led office-based addiction treatment (OBAT). Their coordinated approach involves community health workers bridging jail and outpatient care, ensuring warm handoffs and continuity that improve treatment adherence and reduce recidivism.<br /><br />They underscored challenges such as diversion prevention, short jail stays, and managing social determinants like housing and employment. Data demonstrated that MOUD reduces overdose deaths and recidivism. The presenters encouraged adopting modern public health strategies in corrections, using low-barrier, patient-centered, trauma-informed care to save lives and enhance public safety.

Keywords

opioid crisis

justice-involved individuals

methadone clinic

buprenorphine induction

FDA-approved MOUD

trauma-informed care

community health workers

recidivism reduction

continuity of care