Jason Matejkowski - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Jason Matejkowski
Criminology, Oct 30, 2019
Mental health courts (MHCs) are specialized dockets for defendants with mental illnesses that see... more Mental health courts (MHCs) are specialized dockets for defendants with mental illnesses that seek the adjudication of criminal charges and municipal code violations by using a problem-solving model. Modeled after drug treatment courts, MHCs provide an alternative to incarceration for individuals with mental illness charged with criminal offenses. Mental health courts are but one of an array of problem-solving courts (PSCs) that have proliferated over the past three decades (e.g., drug courts, veterans courts, co-occurring disorder courts) and, as such, share come commonalities with these other PSCs. The populations served by these PSCs often overlap with MHCs as do many of the courts’ approaches (e.g., the use of incentives and sanctions to motivate clients to engage in treatment and support services). This entry will focus on MHCs but, when necessary, also include references pertaining to PSCs. Although MHCs may differ somewhat in structure and function by jurisdiction, this entry begins with resources (including reports, theoretical manuscripts, and empirical studies) identifying counts, structural components, and operational approaches common to MHCs. The entry then highlights the peer-reviewed literature on MHC outcomes, including program completion, recidivism, cost analysis, as well as alternative outcomes. Given the relative paucity of literature on juvenile MHCs, this entry focuses primarily on adult MHCs. Literature on juvenile MHCs is covered near the end of this entry. Similarly, the overwhelming majority of published research and commentary on MHCs pertains to MHCs that operate in the United States. This entry reflects that current state of the research. Finally, the entry concludes with published critiques of the MHC model.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, Nov 4, 2021
Adults under community corrections supervision and who have a mental illness (MI) are expected to... more Adults under community corrections supervision and who have a mental illness (MI) are expected to comply with conditions of release which often include involvement with supportive social services. The rates of technical violation, arrest, and incarceration that result from failure to comply with these mandates are exceedingly high. Shared decision making among officer-supervisors and client-supervisees is a promising approach to promote engagement in community corrections services among supervisees who have MI. This paper reviews recent research on shared decision making and identifies three barriers to its implementation in this context: (1) a lack of role clarity, (2) a predilection for risk avoidance, and (3) stigma toward supervisees. Empirically supported recommendations are suggested to aid in overcoming these obstacles, facilitate shared decision making, and promote recovery among this population: (1) unification of supervisor rehabilitative and public safety roles, (2) maximizing opportunities for self-determination through low-stakes events and/or enhancement of supervisee strengths and capabilities, and (3) supervisor training in principles of mental health recovery.
Social Work in Health Care, Jan 2, 2016
Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined to what extent the number of comorb... more Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined to what extent the number of comorbid health conditions was associated with various mental health service utilization among people with bipolar disorder. The results of logistic regression models indicate that a greater number of comorbid medical conditions were associated with higher odds of using specialty mental health service, while they were not associated with utilization of services provided by general health care providers. The type of bipolar disorder, functional impairment, and marital status were found to be associated with the use of a specialty service, while ethnicity was the only covariate significantly related to general health care use.
Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, Jan 6, 2010
Social integration involves a process through which an individual establishes and maintains meani... more Social integration involves a process through which an individual establishes and maintains meaningful interpersonal relationships characterized by mutual exchange with community members in nonclinical settings. Using self-report data from a probability sample (n=252) of supportive independent housing residents, transactional (i.e., support exchanges) characteristics of social networks, paying particular attention to reciprocation of exchanges between residents and their network members, were analyzed. The study also examined the extent to which transactional characteristics are related to satisfaction with social relations. Findings indicated considerable reciprocity in social relationships. Controlling for sociodemographic variables and network structure characteristics, mutual exchanges of tangible and problem-solving support were positively associated with network satisfaction. Results suggest that supported socialization services aimed at network and resource development with this population could facilitate more frequent exchanges of tangible resources and problem-solving opportunities between consumers and network members, which, in turn, might promote social integration.
Society for Social Work and Research 19th Annual Conference: The Social and Behavioral Importance of Increased Longevity, Jan 17, 2015
Law and Human Behavior, Feb 1, 2017
The involvement of people with serious mental illness (SMI) with the justice system may be a dire... more The involvement of people with serious mental illness (SMI) with the justice system may be a direct result of their disruptive/unsafe expression of psychiatric symptoms being responded to by law enforcement. SMI may also indirectly contribute to justice involvement, through exposure to environmental and social learning processes that place people with SMI at risk for criminal behavior. This study addresses the question: For whom does SMI directly or indirectly relate to criminal behavior? Mediation and conditional effects testing were used to examine the potential of early onset of criminal behavior to distinguish those groups for whom SMI displays a direct effect or an indirect effect on criminal recidivism. This study utilized a disproportionate random sample of 379 inmates released from New Jersey Department of Corrections; 190 of whom had SMI and 189 of whom did not have SMI. Data were collected from clinical and administrative records. Results indicate that criminal risk mediated the relationship between SMI and recidivism. This indirect effect was conditioned by whether the individual had a juvenile conviction. Specifically, for early start offenders, criminal risk was positively related to recidivism while this relationship was not observed for late start offenders. Juvenile criminal onset did not condition the direct effects of SMI on recidivism. A juvenile history of criminal involvement may signal the presence of heightened criminogenic need among adults with SMI. This simple indicator could function to differentiate for clinicians those adults who are good candidates for exploring further, and targeting for amelioration, criminogenic needs to reduce further criminal involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record
Homicide Studies, Aug 1, 2011
To explore whether homicide of intimate partners is distinct from homicide of nonintimates, we co... more To explore whether homicide of intimate partners is distinct from homicide of nonintimates, we compared sociodemographic, legal, family, clinical, and situational characteristics of men who murdered an intimate partner ( n = 71) to those of men who murdered a nonintimate ( n = 363). Bivariate findings suggest that intimate murder offenders are more socially bonded and conforming regarding employment and relationship patterns and use fatal violence to meet emotional rather than instrumental needs compared to nonintimate offenders. Multivariate findings indicate marital status, history of severe mental illness, and motive are important factors that differentiate men who murder intimates from those who murder nonintimates. Homicide prevention efforts must be tailored to account for factors that differentiate these two offender types.
Criminal Justice and Behavior, May 21, 2020
Little is known about how mental health court (MHC) experiences (including satisfaction and sanct... more Little is known about how mental health court (MHC) experiences (including satisfaction and sanctioning, incentivizing, and life change events) differ by race and how this variation affects recidivism among MHC participants. This study examined how MHC experiences and recidivism differ between White (n = 170) and Black (n = 132) participants from four different MHCs in the United Sates. Negative binomial regression models, conducted separately for the two groups, indicated that life changes were associated with decreased arrests and that court sanctions were associated with increased number of arrests for both White and Black participants. Higher program satisfaction was positively associated with recidivism among Black participants only. To provide equitable services for people convicted of a crime with mental illness, professionals should acknowledge racial variation in the experiences of MHC participants (both within the MHC and the communities in which they are situated) and how these experiences relate to recidivism.
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, May 1, 2020
Shared decision making (SDM) can be an effective method for promoting service involvement among p... more Shared decision making (SDM) can be an effective method for promoting service involvement among persons with serious mental illness (SMI). This survey study sought to identify predictors of positive attitudes toward the use of SDM with people with SMI who are living under probation and parole supervision. Supervising officers' (n = 291) perceptions of the capabilities of supervisees with SMI to contribute to their supervision plans, and their familiarity with recovery-oriented mental health services, were positively associated with attitudes toward using SDM. Training officers in common human goals and mental health recovery may advance SDM with supervisees with SMI. 1.1. SDM in health and mental health settings and its translation to community corrections The idea of shared decision making (SDM), advanced as a just and
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2015
Psychiatry Research-neuroimaging, Dec 1, 2014
This 1-year longitudinal study of adults who have recently transitioned from homelessness to Perm... more This 1-year longitudinal study of adults who have recently transitioned from homelessness to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) focuses on quality of life as a primary outcome of interest. Eighty of 103 new tenants participated in structured interviews at the time of entry into their new home and at 12-months post-housing. t-tests assessed differences in community participation and quality of life measures at the 2 time points. Mixed effects models examined the impact of community participation on quality of life. Results show that time in independent housing was significantly associated with several domains of quality of life. Symptom severity was also significantly and negatively related to quality of life domains. Community participation was significantly related to frequency of social contacts only. These findings suggest that community participation is not critical to improving quality of life, and that despite concerns that individuals may feel isolated and lonely when living independently, satisfaction with one's living situation and family relationships nevertheless improves with housing tenure.
Addiction, May 23, 2014
Aim-To review randomized controlled trials to assess efficacy of a prize-based contingency manage... more Aim-To review randomized controlled trials to assess efficacy of a prize-based contingency management procedure in reducing substance use (where a drug-free breath or urine sample provides a chance of winning a prize). Methods-A meta-analysis was conducted on articles published from January 2000 to February 2013 to determine the effect size of studies comparing prize-based contingency management to a treatment-as-usual control condition (k=19 studies). Parallel analyses evaluated the efficacy of both short-(k=9 studies) and long-term outcomes (k=6 studies) of prize-based contingency management. Results-The average end-of-treatment effect size (Cohen's d) was .46 [95% CI=0.37,0.54). This effect size decreased at the short-term (≤ 3-month) post-intervention follow-up to .33 (95% CI=0.12,0.54) and at the 6-month follow-up time point there was no detectable effect (d=-.09 (95% CI=−0.28,0.10)). Conclusion-Adding prize-based contingency management to behavioral support for substance use disorders can increase short-term abstinence but the effect does not appear to persist to 6 months.
Criminal Justice and Behavior, Mar 13, 2018
Community corrections professionals may employ shared decision making (SDM) in many ways with tho... more Community corrections professionals may employ shared decision making (SDM) in many ways with those they supervise who have serious mental illness (SMI). This study examined the psychometric properties of the Community Corrections Shared Decision Making Scale (CCSDM), an instrument developed to measure attitudes that support SDM in community corrections settings. Community corrections professionals were surveyed as to their support of collaborative decision making with their supervisees with SMI. Exploratory factor analysis (n = 146) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 145) were used to explore and validate the scale's factor structure. Results indicate the CCSDM functions as an internally consistent, twofactor scale useful for measuring attitudes toward SDM with people who have SMI and are under community supervision. Respondents were generally supportive of SDM. given the benefits of SDM, assessment of these beliefs is essential to inform implementation strategies aimed at establishing SDM policies and practices in community corrections settings.
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, Dec 30, 2010
Housing First (HF) is an evidence-based practice that ends chronic homelessness for individuals w... more Housing First (HF) is an evidence-based practice that ends chronic homelessness for individuals with serious mental illness by providing immediate access to permanent independent housing and team-based community supports. Little is known about the health status of homeless individuals entering HF programs. Through a cross-sectional analysis, this paper reports on the chronic physical disease burden of people entering a newly established HF program and examines whether these individuals recognize and request support for ongoing health-related issues. The authors' evaluation confirmed significantly higher rates of chronic disease (60%) and fair/poor self-reported health status (47%) than the general urban population of Philadelphia. The majority of clients reported they wanted to address both medical (67%) and mental health (68%) problems, but a much lower percentage reported wanting to reduce substance use (23%) or take psychiatric medications (25%). The authors conclude that formerly homeless entrants to HF programs have a high burden of chronic disease with complex health-related needs. Additionally, these individuals look to the program for health-related assistance. As the HF model is disseminated throughout the United States to end chronic homelessness, these findings support the development of flexible, integrated, person-centered health services within the HF service delivery system as a potentially effective method to address complex health needs.
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Aug 17, 2015
Specially trained parole/probation officers (STOs) increasingly manage caseloads of persons with ... more Specially trained parole/probation officers (STOs) increasingly manage caseloads of persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Using an online survey, we compared the supervision approaches of 90 STOs to 132 non-STOs who also currently work directly with adults who have SMI. Results indicate differences between STOs and non-STOs in caseloads and in knowledge and support regarding rehabilitative approaches (i.e., risks-, strengths-, or mental health-focused approaches). Support for a variety of approaches appears common despite the lack of models indicating how to combine aspects of each in practice and a lack of research as with whom specific combinations may be most effective.
Community Mental Health Journal, Jun 18, 2015
Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined the extent to which the utilization... more Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined the extent to which the utilization of various mental health services was associated with racial-ethnic identity among people with major affective disorders who have a criminal history. Approximately 33.7 % of the sample received any type of mental health services in a given year. Multivariate models indicated that married Blacks and Latinos were less likely to use specialty mental health care than their white counterparts. To provide equitable mental health treatment for vulnerable subgroups of this population, mental health professionals should account for the heterogeneity of mental health care in diverse cultural contexts.
Psychiatry Research-neuroimaging, Nov 1, 2013
Using a nationally representative sample of 1280 Asian Americans, we examined the extent to which... more Using a nationally representative sample of 1280 Asian Americans, we examined the extent to which major depressive disorder (MDD) onset differs by ethnicity and its associated factors for each of the three ethnic groups: Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese. We employed the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate the survival and hazard functions for MDD onset by ethnicity, and cox proportional hazards models to identify socio-demographic and immigration-related factors associated with MDD onset. Approximately 7% of the entire sample had experienced MDD onset in their lifetime. Filipino immigrants showed the highest survival function, followed by Vietnamese immigrants over time. Those who were never-married or divorced were more likely to experience MDD onset when compared to their married or cohabiting counterparts. Those who immigrated at a younger age were more likely to experience MDD onset than were those who immigrated at an older age. However, there were ethnic variations in terms of the risk factors that were associated with MDD onset across these three ethnic groups. Findings from this study signal the importance of understanding the differing experiences of MDD onset by ethnicity.
Law and Human Behavior, Feb 1, 2015
Adults with serious mental illness (SMI) who are released from prison tend to recidivate more qui... more Adults with serious mental illness (SMI) who are released from prison tend to recidivate more quickly and at higher rates than similarly situated adults who do not have SMI. The current study examined whether this relationship with recidivism is mediated by criminal risk level and whether parole supervision can ameliorate the effects of SMI on recidivism. Findings indicate that SMI did exhibit a significant indirect effect with recidivism when considering its relationship with actuarially assessed risk. However, this indirect effect was not conditioned by whether the individual was released to parole; specifically release status did not moderate the relationship between risk and recidivism. The direct effects of SMI on recidivism were found to be conditioned upon release status. Specifically, we found no relationship between SMI and recidivism for parolees and a negative relationship between SMI and recidivism among nonparolees. Findings indicate a need for paroling authorities to find more effective ways of reducing criminal risk, which can decrease subsequent recidivism, among the individuals they supervise.
Criminology, Oct 30, 2019
Mental health courts (MHCs) are specialized dockets for defendants with mental illnesses that see... more Mental health courts (MHCs) are specialized dockets for defendants with mental illnesses that seek the adjudication of criminal charges and municipal code violations by using a problem-solving model. Modeled after drug treatment courts, MHCs provide an alternative to incarceration for individuals with mental illness charged with criminal offenses. Mental health courts are but one of an array of problem-solving courts (PSCs) that have proliferated over the past three decades (e.g., drug courts, veterans courts, co-occurring disorder courts) and, as such, share come commonalities with these other PSCs. The populations served by these PSCs often overlap with MHCs as do many of the courts’ approaches (e.g., the use of incentives and sanctions to motivate clients to engage in treatment and support services). This entry will focus on MHCs but, when necessary, also include references pertaining to PSCs. Although MHCs may differ somewhat in structure and function by jurisdiction, this entry begins with resources (including reports, theoretical manuscripts, and empirical studies) identifying counts, structural components, and operational approaches common to MHCs. The entry then highlights the peer-reviewed literature on MHC outcomes, including program completion, recidivism, cost analysis, as well as alternative outcomes. Given the relative paucity of literature on juvenile MHCs, this entry focuses primarily on adult MHCs. Literature on juvenile MHCs is covered near the end of this entry. Similarly, the overwhelming majority of published research and commentary on MHCs pertains to MHCs that operate in the United States. This entry reflects that current state of the research. Finally, the entry concludes with published critiques of the MHC model.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, Nov 4, 2021
Adults under community corrections supervision and who have a mental illness (MI) are expected to... more Adults under community corrections supervision and who have a mental illness (MI) are expected to comply with conditions of release which often include involvement with supportive social services. The rates of technical violation, arrest, and incarceration that result from failure to comply with these mandates are exceedingly high. Shared decision making among officer-supervisors and client-supervisees is a promising approach to promote engagement in community corrections services among supervisees who have MI. This paper reviews recent research on shared decision making and identifies three barriers to its implementation in this context: (1) a lack of role clarity, (2) a predilection for risk avoidance, and (3) stigma toward supervisees. Empirically supported recommendations are suggested to aid in overcoming these obstacles, facilitate shared decision making, and promote recovery among this population: (1) unification of supervisor rehabilitative and public safety roles, (2) maximizing opportunities for self-determination through low-stakes events and/or enhancement of supervisee strengths and capabilities, and (3) supervisor training in principles of mental health recovery.
Social Work in Health Care, Jan 2, 2016
Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined to what extent the number of comorb... more Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined to what extent the number of comorbid health conditions was associated with various mental health service utilization among people with bipolar disorder. The results of logistic regression models indicate that a greater number of comorbid medical conditions were associated with higher odds of using specialty mental health service, while they were not associated with utilization of services provided by general health care providers. The type of bipolar disorder, functional impairment, and marital status were found to be associated with the use of a specialty service, while ethnicity was the only covariate significantly related to general health care use.
Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, Jan 6, 2010
Social integration involves a process through which an individual establishes and maintains meani... more Social integration involves a process through which an individual establishes and maintains meaningful interpersonal relationships characterized by mutual exchange with community members in nonclinical settings. Using self-report data from a probability sample (n=252) of supportive independent housing residents, transactional (i.e., support exchanges) characteristics of social networks, paying particular attention to reciprocation of exchanges between residents and their network members, were analyzed. The study also examined the extent to which transactional characteristics are related to satisfaction with social relations. Findings indicated considerable reciprocity in social relationships. Controlling for sociodemographic variables and network structure characteristics, mutual exchanges of tangible and problem-solving support were positively associated with network satisfaction. Results suggest that supported socialization services aimed at network and resource development with this population could facilitate more frequent exchanges of tangible resources and problem-solving opportunities between consumers and network members, which, in turn, might promote social integration.
Society for Social Work and Research 19th Annual Conference: The Social and Behavioral Importance of Increased Longevity, Jan 17, 2015
Law and Human Behavior, Feb 1, 2017
The involvement of people with serious mental illness (SMI) with the justice system may be a dire... more The involvement of people with serious mental illness (SMI) with the justice system may be a direct result of their disruptive/unsafe expression of psychiatric symptoms being responded to by law enforcement. SMI may also indirectly contribute to justice involvement, through exposure to environmental and social learning processes that place people with SMI at risk for criminal behavior. This study addresses the question: For whom does SMI directly or indirectly relate to criminal behavior? Mediation and conditional effects testing were used to examine the potential of early onset of criminal behavior to distinguish those groups for whom SMI displays a direct effect or an indirect effect on criminal recidivism. This study utilized a disproportionate random sample of 379 inmates released from New Jersey Department of Corrections; 190 of whom had SMI and 189 of whom did not have SMI. Data were collected from clinical and administrative records. Results indicate that criminal risk mediated the relationship between SMI and recidivism. This indirect effect was conditioned by whether the individual had a juvenile conviction. Specifically, for early start offenders, criminal risk was positively related to recidivism while this relationship was not observed for late start offenders. Juvenile criminal onset did not condition the direct effects of SMI on recidivism. A juvenile history of criminal involvement may signal the presence of heightened criminogenic need among adults with SMI. This simple indicator could function to differentiate for clinicians those adults who are good candidates for exploring further, and targeting for amelioration, criminogenic needs to reduce further criminal involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record
Homicide Studies, Aug 1, 2011
To explore whether homicide of intimate partners is distinct from homicide of nonintimates, we co... more To explore whether homicide of intimate partners is distinct from homicide of nonintimates, we compared sociodemographic, legal, family, clinical, and situational characteristics of men who murdered an intimate partner ( n = 71) to those of men who murdered a nonintimate ( n = 363). Bivariate findings suggest that intimate murder offenders are more socially bonded and conforming regarding employment and relationship patterns and use fatal violence to meet emotional rather than instrumental needs compared to nonintimate offenders. Multivariate findings indicate marital status, history of severe mental illness, and motive are important factors that differentiate men who murder intimates from those who murder nonintimates. Homicide prevention efforts must be tailored to account for factors that differentiate these two offender types.
Criminal Justice and Behavior, May 21, 2020
Little is known about how mental health court (MHC) experiences (including satisfaction and sanct... more Little is known about how mental health court (MHC) experiences (including satisfaction and sanctioning, incentivizing, and life change events) differ by race and how this variation affects recidivism among MHC participants. This study examined how MHC experiences and recidivism differ between White (n = 170) and Black (n = 132) participants from four different MHCs in the United Sates. Negative binomial regression models, conducted separately for the two groups, indicated that life changes were associated with decreased arrests and that court sanctions were associated with increased number of arrests for both White and Black participants. Higher program satisfaction was positively associated with recidivism among Black participants only. To provide equitable services for people convicted of a crime with mental illness, professionals should acknowledge racial variation in the experiences of MHC participants (both within the MHC and the communities in which they are situated) and how these experiences relate to recidivism.
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, May 1, 2020
Shared decision making (SDM) can be an effective method for promoting service involvement among p... more Shared decision making (SDM) can be an effective method for promoting service involvement among persons with serious mental illness (SMI). This survey study sought to identify predictors of positive attitudes toward the use of SDM with people with SMI who are living under probation and parole supervision. Supervising officers' (n = 291) perceptions of the capabilities of supervisees with SMI to contribute to their supervision plans, and their familiarity with recovery-oriented mental health services, were positively associated with attitudes toward using SDM. Training officers in common human goals and mental health recovery may advance SDM with supervisees with SMI. 1.1. SDM in health and mental health settings and its translation to community corrections The idea of shared decision making (SDM), advanced as a just and
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2015
Psychiatry Research-neuroimaging, Dec 1, 2014
This 1-year longitudinal study of adults who have recently transitioned from homelessness to Perm... more This 1-year longitudinal study of adults who have recently transitioned from homelessness to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) focuses on quality of life as a primary outcome of interest. Eighty of 103 new tenants participated in structured interviews at the time of entry into their new home and at 12-months post-housing. t-tests assessed differences in community participation and quality of life measures at the 2 time points. Mixed effects models examined the impact of community participation on quality of life. Results show that time in independent housing was significantly associated with several domains of quality of life. Symptom severity was also significantly and negatively related to quality of life domains. Community participation was significantly related to frequency of social contacts only. These findings suggest that community participation is not critical to improving quality of life, and that despite concerns that individuals may feel isolated and lonely when living independently, satisfaction with one's living situation and family relationships nevertheless improves with housing tenure.
Addiction, May 23, 2014
Aim-To review randomized controlled trials to assess efficacy of a prize-based contingency manage... more Aim-To review randomized controlled trials to assess efficacy of a prize-based contingency management procedure in reducing substance use (where a drug-free breath or urine sample provides a chance of winning a prize). Methods-A meta-analysis was conducted on articles published from January 2000 to February 2013 to determine the effect size of studies comparing prize-based contingency management to a treatment-as-usual control condition (k=19 studies). Parallel analyses evaluated the efficacy of both short-(k=9 studies) and long-term outcomes (k=6 studies) of prize-based contingency management. Results-The average end-of-treatment effect size (Cohen's d) was .46 [95% CI=0.37,0.54). This effect size decreased at the short-term (≤ 3-month) post-intervention follow-up to .33 (95% CI=0.12,0.54) and at the 6-month follow-up time point there was no detectable effect (d=-.09 (95% CI=−0.28,0.10)). Conclusion-Adding prize-based contingency management to behavioral support for substance use disorders can increase short-term abstinence but the effect does not appear to persist to 6 months.
Criminal Justice and Behavior, Mar 13, 2018
Community corrections professionals may employ shared decision making (SDM) in many ways with tho... more Community corrections professionals may employ shared decision making (SDM) in many ways with those they supervise who have serious mental illness (SMI). This study examined the psychometric properties of the Community Corrections Shared Decision Making Scale (CCSDM), an instrument developed to measure attitudes that support SDM in community corrections settings. Community corrections professionals were surveyed as to their support of collaborative decision making with their supervisees with SMI. Exploratory factor analysis (n = 146) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 145) were used to explore and validate the scale's factor structure. Results indicate the CCSDM functions as an internally consistent, twofactor scale useful for measuring attitudes toward SDM with people who have SMI and are under community supervision. Respondents were generally supportive of SDM. given the benefits of SDM, assessment of these beliefs is essential to inform implementation strategies aimed at establishing SDM policies and practices in community corrections settings.
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, Dec 30, 2010
Housing First (HF) is an evidence-based practice that ends chronic homelessness for individuals w... more Housing First (HF) is an evidence-based practice that ends chronic homelessness for individuals with serious mental illness by providing immediate access to permanent independent housing and team-based community supports. Little is known about the health status of homeless individuals entering HF programs. Through a cross-sectional analysis, this paper reports on the chronic physical disease burden of people entering a newly established HF program and examines whether these individuals recognize and request support for ongoing health-related issues. The authors' evaluation confirmed significantly higher rates of chronic disease (60%) and fair/poor self-reported health status (47%) than the general urban population of Philadelphia. The majority of clients reported they wanted to address both medical (67%) and mental health (68%) problems, but a much lower percentage reported wanting to reduce substance use (23%) or take psychiatric medications (25%). The authors conclude that formerly homeless entrants to HF programs have a high burden of chronic disease with complex health-related needs. Additionally, these individuals look to the program for health-related assistance. As the HF model is disseminated throughout the United States to end chronic homelessness, these findings support the development of flexible, integrated, person-centered health services within the HF service delivery system as a potentially effective method to address complex health needs.
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Aug 17, 2015
Specially trained parole/probation officers (STOs) increasingly manage caseloads of persons with ... more Specially trained parole/probation officers (STOs) increasingly manage caseloads of persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Using an online survey, we compared the supervision approaches of 90 STOs to 132 non-STOs who also currently work directly with adults who have SMI. Results indicate differences between STOs and non-STOs in caseloads and in knowledge and support regarding rehabilitative approaches (i.e., risks-, strengths-, or mental health-focused approaches). Support for a variety of approaches appears common despite the lack of models indicating how to combine aspects of each in practice and a lack of research as with whom specific combinations may be most effective.
Community Mental Health Journal, Jun 18, 2015
Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined the extent to which the utilization... more Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined the extent to which the utilization of various mental health services was associated with racial-ethnic identity among people with major affective disorders who have a criminal history. Approximately 33.7 % of the sample received any type of mental health services in a given year. Multivariate models indicated that married Blacks and Latinos were less likely to use specialty mental health care than their white counterparts. To provide equitable mental health treatment for vulnerable subgroups of this population, mental health professionals should account for the heterogeneity of mental health care in diverse cultural contexts.
Psychiatry Research-neuroimaging, Nov 1, 2013
Using a nationally representative sample of 1280 Asian Americans, we examined the extent to which... more Using a nationally representative sample of 1280 Asian Americans, we examined the extent to which major depressive disorder (MDD) onset differs by ethnicity and its associated factors for each of the three ethnic groups: Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese. We employed the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate the survival and hazard functions for MDD onset by ethnicity, and cox proportional hazards models to identify socio-demographic and immigration-related factors associated with MDD onset. Approximately 7% of the entire sample had experienced MDD onset in their lifetime. Filipino immigrants showed the highest survival function, followed by Vietnamese immigrants over time. Those who were never-married or divorced were more likely to experience MDD onset when compared to their married or cohabiting counterparts. Those who immigrated at a younger age were more likely to experience MDD onset than were those who immigrated at an older age. However, there were ethnic variations in terms of the risk factors that were associated with MDD onset across these three ethnic groups. Findings from this study signal the importance of understanding the differing experiences of MDD onset by ethnicity.
Law and Human Behavior, Feb 1, 2015
Adults with serious mental illness (SMI) who are released from prison tend to recidivate more qui... more Adults with serious mental illness (SMI) who are released from prison tend to recidivate more quickly and at higher rates than similarly situated adults who do not have SMI. The current study examined whether this relationship with recidivism is mediated by criminal risk level and whether parole supervision can ameliorate the effects of SMI on recidivism. Findings indicate that SMI did exhibit a significant indirect effect with recidivism when considering its relationship with actuarially assessed risk. However, this indirect effect was not conditioned by whether the individual was released to parole; specifically release status did not moderate the relationship between risk and recidivism. The direct effects of SMI on recidivism were found to be conditioned upon release status. Specifically, we found no relationship between SMI and recidivism for parolees and a negative relationship between SMI and recidivism among nonparolees. Findings indicate a need for paroling authorities to find more effective ways of reducing criminal risk, which can decrease subsequent recidivism, among the individuals they supervise.