Offender Reentry Program (ORP)

Re-entering individuals navigate significant challenges and barriers transitioning from incarceration to the community, which often include limitations on employment prospects, public housing, and access to clinical and social services. ORP is a voluntary program designed to assist adult offenders diagnosed with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD), returning to the five NYC boroughs from NYS Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) prisons [primarily Sing Sing and Bedford Hills, as identified and referred to us by OMH/DOCCS] after serving a minimum sentence of 6 months for a felony. ORP targets a total of 55 unduplicated and additional individuals fitting this demographic per year for a total of 275 for the grant period. We aim to improve community reintegration and reduce recidivism for this highly vulnerable population through evidence-based practices, intensive case management, clinical care coordination, Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS), and linkage to NYC’s extensive programs/resources.

ORP utilizes mutually reinforcing, evidence-based practices (EBPs) demonstrated effective in reducing recidivism: Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR), Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS), Critical Time Intervention (CTI), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Interactive Journaling (IJ). ORP Clinical Care Coordinators/Case Managers engage returnees in a working relationship while incarcerated and sustain engagement beyond release (for at least 9 months) to identify healthy/appropriate coping skills, expand problem-solving techniques, and develop an Individual Service Plan (ISP), featuring person-centered goals targeting individualized challenges related to the immediate reentry process to not only achieve long-term stability, but increase identity capital as well as restore personal success.

On the day of scheduled release, returnees are met by assigned ORP staff and Forensic ICM at their designated parole office to make their initial community report, to review their initial supervision plan, including general and/or special orders and parole conditions. ORP participants are later escorted to their approved residence or supportive housing program to ensure safe arrival and secure placement. Furthermore, once approved by parole supervision, returnees are connected to a full range of vocational and training opportunities (e.g., educational and/or skills training, career interests, goals for family responsibilities, job preferences, transportation, networking), by EAC’s Vocational Specialist.