Community Reintegration of Persons with SMI Post Incarceration

This issue brief provides an overview of specialized services and programs that support ex-inmates with severe mental illness (SMI) returning to the community post release, with particular attention given to the Massachusetts’ Forensic Transition Team (FTT) model

From Correctional Custody to Community: The Massachusetts Forensic Transition Program

Offenders with mental illness who are serving correctional sentences are released to the community.Without support systems linking their transition to community-based programs following release from prison, the services necessary for their community reintegration are often fragmented and attenuated. Nearly two thirds of all inmates return to prison, and offenders with mental illness face major challenges during reintegration and have an even more difficult time living in the community without specialized, informed services. This article describes a Massachusetts program designed to bridge the transition of offenders with mental illness from incarceration to the community.The authors review historical and recent trends that support the need for such a program along with a description of the demographics of the population served and the challenges faced during program implementation. They also offer recommendations for enhancing public safety and providing efficient service to offenders with mental illness

Using Mindfulness for Increasing Provider Capacity to Support Inner City Survivors of Violence [English and Spanish versions]

A Spanish translation of this publication is available to download under Additional Files below. Mindfulness is recognized as an evidence-based practice that can improve a person’s physical and emotional health and well-being. This research project examined the cultural relevance and potential acceptability of mindfulness practices by front-line providers working with a low-income community of color affected by gun homicide

MISSION Community Re-Entry for Women (MISSION-CREW) Program Development and Implementation [English and Spanish versions]

A Spanish translation of this publication is available to download under Additional Files below. Describes a study that examined the impact of the MISSION-CREW (Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach, and Networking Community Re-Entry for Women) model of care on criminal justice outcomes for women released from MCI-Framingham and South Middlesex Correctional Center (SMCC) in Massachusetts. Originally published as: Research in the Works, Issue 5, 2011

Feasibility and Acceptability of Mindfulness for Survivors of Homicide and Their Providers

PURPOSE: This study uses participatory research methods with survivors of homicide and their service providers to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally adapted mindfulness intervention for stress reduction and resilience in homicide survivors. PROCEDURES: Our mixed methods approach included: (a) previewing a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program with providers and survivors; (b) using their iterative feedback during focus groups to revise the curriculum; and (c) studying the acceptability of the adapted curriculum for survivors through focus group and standardized data collection. FINDINGS: We learned that providers use mindfulness for self-care and both providers and survivors view the approach for survivors as promising. Based on attendance, participation, and focus group data, the adapted curriculum was both feasible and acceptable. Survivors\u27 reports suggested most experienced improved emotion regulation, feelings of empowerment, and better coping. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally adapted mindfulness programs may support healing for homicide survivors and possibly other low-income people of color with significant trauma backgrounds. Further investigation is needed to rigorously assess outcomes and specific effects, both positive and negative, of mindfulness in this and other more diversified populations

MISSION Diversion & Recovery for Traumatized Veterans (MISSION DIRECT VET): Early Findings and Lessons Learned

MISSION DIRECT VET is a SAMHSA- funded, court based diversion program targeting veterans in Massachusetts with trauma-related mental health and substance use problems. MISSION-DIRECT VET seeks to: Reduce criminal justice involvement Treat mental health, substance abuse and other trauma related symptoms Use a systematic wrap-around model Provide care coordination, peer support and trauma informed services Develop interagency partnerships to serve veterans with co-occurring disorder

MISSION Diversion & Recovery for Traumatized Veterans (MISSION DIRECT VET): Early Planning and Development

MISSION DIRECT VET is a SAMHSA- funded, court based diversion program targeting veterans in Massachusetts with trauma-related mental health and substance use problems. MISSION-DIRECT VET seeks to: Reduce criminal justice involvement Treat mental health, substance abuse and other trauma related symptoms Use a systematic wrap-around model Provide care coordination, peer support and trauma informed service

Multisite Phosphorylation of the Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Cdc24 during Yeast Cell Polarization

BACKGROUND:Cell polarization is essential for processes such as cell migration and asymmetric cell division. A common regulator of cell polarization in most eukaryotic cells is the conserved Rho GTPase, Cdc42. In budding yeast, Cdc42 is activated by a single guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Cdc24. The mechanistic details of Cdc24 activation at the onset of yeast cell polarization are unclear. Previous studies have suggested an important role for phosphorylation of Cdc24, which may regulate activity or function of the protein, representing a key step in the symmetry breaking process. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here, we directly ask whether multisite phosphorylation of Cdc24 plays a role in its regulation. We identify through mass spectrometry analysis over thirty putative in vivo phosphorylation sites. We first focus on sites matching consensus sequences for cyclin-dependent and p21-activated kinases, two kinase families that have been previously shown to phosphorylate Cdc24. Through site-directed mutagenesis, yeast genetics, and light and fluorescence microscopy, we show that nonphosphorylatable mutations of these consensus sites do not lead to any detectable consequences on growth rate, morphology, kinetics of polarization, or localization of the mutant protein. We do, however, observe a change in the mobility shift of mutant Cdc24 proteins on SDS-PAGE, suggesting that we have indeed perturbed its phosphorylation. Finally, we show that mutation of all identified phosphorylation sites does not cause observable defects in growth rate or morphology. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:We conclude that lack of phosphorylation on Cdc24 has no overt functional consequences in budding yeast. Yeast cell polarization may be more tightly regulated by inactivation of Cdc42 by GTPase activating proteins or by alternative methods of Cdc24 regulation, such as conformational changes or oligomerization

Community Reintegration of Persons with SMI Post Incarceration

This issue brief provides an overview of specialized services and programs that support ex-inmates with severe mental illness (SMI) returning to the community post release, with particular attention given to the Massachusetts’ Forensic Transition Team (FTT) model

From Correctional Custody to Community: The Massachusetts Forensic Transition Program

Offenders with mental illness who are serving correctional sentences are released to the community.Without support systems linking their transition to community-based programs following release from prison, the services necessary for their community reintegration are often fragmented and attenuated. Nearly two thirds of all inmates return to prison, and offenders with mental illness face major challenges during reintegration and have an even more difficult time living in the community without specialized, informed services. This article describes a Massachusetts program designed to bridge the transition of offenders with mental illness from incarceration to the community.The authors review historical and recent trends that support the need for such a program along with a description of the demographics of the population served and the challenges faced during program implementation. They also offer recommendations for enhancing public safety and providing efficient service to offenders with mental illness