Case management for dually diagnosed individuals involved in the criminal justice system

A case-management model for individuals with substance abuse and mental health disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system is described, based on the experience of a rural demonstration project. Detailed descriptions of case-management activities and the philosophy underlying this model of case management are provided. A major goal of these case-management services was to improve access to appropriate treatment for the target population. Evaluation data describing the population served, case-management implementation, and outcomes are presented along with a case vignette. Six-month follow-up data revealed significantly fewer legal problems and apparent symptom relief for participants in the project. Participants reported improvement in most life areas measured compared to the year before, and were generally satisfied with the case-management services. Barriers observed in implementing these types of services and issues for replication are outlined and discussed.