Leaders of five state level  agencies have created a new project to facilitate the reentry into Ohio communities of mentally ill offenders.  The project is called "Bridging the Gap Reentry Project."  This project is a collaborative effort  of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC), Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH), Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), Ohio Department of Drug and Alcohol Services (ODADAS), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio (NAMI Ohio).  The leaders have joined together to form a Steering Committee to direct the project.  NAMI Ohio volunteer  Janet Studer has been hired to serve as Project Coordinator for a six-month period.

This project will be providing follow-up services to participants of a conference last fall entitled:  Safer  Communities by Bridging the Gap:  Creating Systems of Care for  Offenders with Mental Illness.  The project also welcomes the involvement of persons who did not attend this  conference and have interest or responsibilities in this area. The  purpose of this initiative is to help community stakeholders develop community-based, integrated responses to serve the offenders, their families, and communities upon the offenders' release from  prison.  By accomplishing this goal, the project will have  helped reduce recidivism, create safer communities, and strengthen  partnerships among stakeholders charged with the mission.

The Steering Committee members and the Project Coordinator will meet with community stakeholders around Ohio.  These stakeholders include anyone who works with mentally ill inmates upon their release from prison.  Examples of stakeholders include  family members, parole officers, law enforcement officials, social  workers, community mental health boards, mental health provider agencies, alcohol and drug addiction programs, halfway houses, faith  community programs, and employment services. The Reentry Project  plans to help bring these persons and agencies together to share information and resources, identify strengths, and develop plans to  overcome the weaknesses or barriers faced in the treatment of mentally ill offenders.

Bridging the Gap Reentry Project will communicate with participants by means of a monthly newsletter and this Web  site.  Please contact us with your ideas,  questions, and  concerns. This project presents a unique opportunity that could have  lasting impact on the communities served.  Janet Studer's e-mail address is jgent1220@columbus.rr.com.

NEW! REPOSITORY OF BEST PRACTICES AND OTHER INITIATIVES IN THE REENTRY OF MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS (MSWord)

 Bridging the Gap Newsletter Dec 2004 (in MS Word)

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