A new initiative launching Oct. 1 will help Sacramento County connect justice-involved individuals to health care and support services before they leave custody, creating a more coordinated path to care as they return to their communities.
Sacramento County Department of Health Services in coordination with the Sheriff's Office, Probation and the Department of Human Assistance, along with community partners, are implementing the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal Justice Involved (CalAIM JI).
The initiative is designed to address health needs while people are still in custody, rather than waiting until after their release to connect them with services. Eligible Medi-Cal members can receive a targeted set of Medicaid services to youth and eligible adults in state prisons, county jails and youth correctional facilities for up to 90 days prior to release.
For many people involved in the justice system, health needs can be a significant barrier to successfully returning to their communities. CalAIM JI is designed to help bridge gaps in care by connecting people with health services before release and helping establish a plan for continued care in the community.
The initiative expands access to care beyond behavioral health to address the whole person. Services available through the program can include physical and behavioral health clinical consultations, medications, laboratory and radiology services, substance use treatment, reentry care management and support from community health workers with lived experience. Eligible individuals may also receive prescribed medications and other medically necessary supplies when they leave custody.
For adults, eligibility for the 90-day pre-release services generally includes being a Medi-Cal member and meeting one or more of the following health needs criteria: confirmed or suspected mental health diagnosis, a substance use disorder or suspected diagnosis, a chronic clinical condition or significant non-chronic clinical condition, a traumatic brain injury, intellectual or development disability, a positive test or diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or are pregnant or within a 12-month postpartum period.
Youth who are in custody of a youth correctional facility; they do not need to meet clinical criteria.
The goal is to create a healthier and more equitable reentry experience by improving connections between services provided before release and care available in the community. The initiative also aims to improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, support rehabilitation and promote sustainable reintegration into the community.
CalAIM JI is part of a broader effort to make sure people leaving custody have the health care, resources and support they need to continue their care and successfully transition back into the community.
To learn more about the CalAIM JI, including eligibility and available services, visit the Sacramento County CalAIM Justice-Involved Initiative webpage.