Figure 1
History of the Integrated Services Program
Figure 1 presents a timeline of the integrated services program. The figure is split into three columns. The left side of the timeline shows actions the Legislature has taken, the right side shows actions Corrections has taken, and the dates 2007 to 2020 run down the middle. On the Legislature’s side, the first action occurred in 2007 when the passage of AB 900 authorized the program and allowed Corrections to contract with counties for mental health services for at least 300 parolees. Corrections’ actions begin in 2008 when it solicited county interest in entering into contracts to operate the program. Only Santa Clara County accepted that year. In 2009 Corrections awarded a contract to San Francisco County and also to three private providers. Then in 2012 the Legislature added subsidies for housing and defined program eligibility requirements through SB 1021. Also in 2012 Corrections issued an internal memo to educate its staff by reminding parole agents about the program. In 2013 Corrections studied the program’s effect on recidivism by drafting a report that compared recidivism rates for program participants to nonparticipants. Later in 2013, through the Budget Act, the Legislature increased the program funding to serve 1,000 eligible parolees. At the end of 2013, Corrections updated the program’s scope and added funding to the contracts for rental subsidies for program participants.
In 2014 the Legislature, through the 2014 Budget Act, provided funding for a study to examine the program’s effects on recidivism. In 2015 Corrections contracted with the University of California, Los Angeles to evaluate the program’s costs relative to the cost savings of reduced recidivism. In 2016 Corrections modified the program structure further by defining the program’s phases and placing senior psychologists in liaison roles with the providers. It also required providers to establish housing coordinator positions. In 2017 the Joint Legislative Budget Committee received the UCLA report on recidivism. In 2019 the Legislature introduced two bills, SB 282 and AB 816, which proposed changes to the program. The Senate bill is in suspense, and the Assembly bill died in committee. The final action on the Legislature’s part was to pass the Budget Act of 2020, which phases out funding for the program by June 2021. Also in 2020 Corrections notified providers that the program would end on December 31, 2020. The source for the timeline is analysis of state laws enacted and introduced as well as various documents from Corrections.
Figure 2
Program Locations of the Five Program Providers With Contracts in Fiscal Year 2019–2020
Figure 2 is a map of California’s counties showing the counties in which Corrections offers the program along with the name of the provider running the program in that county. The eight counties that contain an integrated services program are highlighted in a particular color, and that color corresponds to the provider that operates the program in that county. Starting from the northern end of the state and moving downwards, the map shows Sacramento County and Fresno County highlighted in green. Green corresponds to the provider Quality Group Homes. San Francisco County is highlighted a bright red, corresponding to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Further south is Santa Clara County, which is highlighted in maroon corresponding to Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services. The provider Turning Point operates the integrated services program in Kern County, denoted by the color yellow. Finally, the provider Telecare operates programs in three counties in southern California—Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego—all highlighted in blue. The source for the figure is Corrections’ contracts with the providers for fiscal year 2019-20.
Figure 3
Example of a Participant’s Progression Through the Program
Figure 3 shows an example of a participant’s progression through the integrated services program from when the participant enters the program to when he or she completes it and leaves. The figure depicts the program as a path, divided into four portions, colored gold, blue, green, and pink. The first section of the path, highlighted in gold, represents the participant beginning the program and focuses on the provider and participant addressing examples of the participant’s immediate needs. These include food, clothing, shelter, and medication. The next section of the path, highlighted in blue, focuses on the provider helping the participant set and work toward goals; examples of which are obtaining an identification card, finding employment, or working toward sobriety. The third section of the path focuses on the provider and participant planning ways to maintain the goals the participant has achieved. Examples are the participant’s improved mental health, sources of income, and housing. This section is highlighted in green. The final section on the path is highlighted in pink and it focuses on the provider helping the participant complete and leave the program by transitioning to county mental health services. The source for the figure is analysis of the provider contracts.