Protocol for a quasi-experimental, 950 county study examining implementation outcomes and mechanisms of Stepping Up, a national policy effort to improve mental health and substance use services for justice-involved individuals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The criminal justice system is the largest provider of mental health services in the USA. Many jurisdictions are interested in reducing the use of the justice system for mental health problems. The national Stepping Up Initiative helps agencies within counties work together more effectively to reduce the number of individuals with mental illness in jails and to improve access to mental health services in the community. This study will compare Stepping Up counties to matched comparison counties over time to (1) examine the effectiveness of Stepping Up and (2) test hypothesized implementation mechanisms to inform multi-agency implementation efforts more broadly.

Methods

The study will survey 950 counties at baseline, 18 months, and 36 months in a quasi-experimental

SUBMITTER: Johnson JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8006626 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature