The First Person Perspectives: From Incarceration to Recovery module was designed specifically for providers working with justice-involved individuals with mental illness. This training provides a first-hand account of the experience of incarceration, reentry and recovery from those who have lived through it. Trainers will describe their day-to-day experiences of incarceration and the strategies they used to cope with that experience. In addition, they will explore the challenges and opportunities inherent in transitioning to the community from a correctional facility. They will also discuss how incarceration has affected their personal identify and behavior and provide insight into the sources and impact of stigma on their recovery. Most importantly, they will share their stories of personal strength and resolve to move forward. Ultimately, they will help providers understand how they can best support their justice-involved clients with mental health issues, as they carve a path to recovery. 

Using video interviews and interactive activities, this module helps providers to:

• Cite two reentry challenges faced by clients entering the community from jail of prison,
• Describe two engagement strategies that can help clinicians foster more positive working relationships with clients reentering the community form prison and/or jail, and
• Define the concept of “recovery” for people with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system.

This module was developed by the CUCS Academy for Justice-Informed Practice and CPI and funded by the NYS Office of Mental Health, and the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene in cooperation with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

This is the fifth of a series of modules for providers working with justice-involved individuals with mental illness. The first four modules, currently available, are entitled SPECTRM (Sensitizing Providers to the Effects of Correctional Incarceration on Treatment and Risk Management); Working with Persons Under Criminal Justice Mandates: Collaboration, Connection and Communication; Reducing Re-Arrest and Promoting Recovery: Understanding and Addressing the Factors that Contribute to Re-Arrest; and Understanding and Navigating the Criminal Justice System: An Overview for Behavioral Health Professionals.

To access this module:

Log into the Learning Community using your username and password at: https://rfmh.csod.com/client/rfmh/default.aspx

Click on "Browse for training"

Click on "Justice-Involved Individuals"

Click on "First Person Perspectives......"

Click on "Launch"

PLEASE NOTE: This training is also offered through the CUCS Academy for Justice-Informed Practice, where it is part of a larger certificate bearing program. This program, referred to as the CUCS Behavioral Health/Criminal Justice Certificate Program, is comprised of several training modules. If you are interested in obtaining this certificate, please DO NOT take this online course through CPI's Learning Community. Instead, take this course through the CUCS Learning Management System. Completion of this online course through CPI is not transferable and will not count toward the certificate program.