Recovery Works Expands Services

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction is expanding its Recovery Works program. The office says the expansion will allow Hoosiers charged with or convicted of misdemeanors to receive services.

The program will serve 20 treatment providers and recovery residences in 26 counties around the state.

“This pilot program is critical in reducing the disproportionate number of persons with mental health and substance use disorders that are entering our justice-involved settings,” said Douglas Huntsinger, Indiana executive director for Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement. “Recovery Works is one way we’re trying to address this societal issue. The hope is that by increasing access to treatment and wraparound services, we’re able to reduce recidivism and future involvement in the justice system, while also helping a person sustain their recovery.”

The DMHA says the pilot program was created to help address the gap in mental health and substance use treatment resources and to provide access to necessary treatment at approved treatment providers.

“Recovery Works is a model program: collaborative, evidence based, and driven by data and outcomes,” said Jay Chaudhary, DMHA director. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to expand crucial services to the misdemeanant population and are confident that the outcomes will be equally positive.”

Recovery Works, which was established in 2015, is a voucher-based system that supports partnerships between the criminal justice system and mental health and addiction treatment providers. Until now, the office says the program has only been available to people facing a felony charge or with a prior felony conviction.

The program agencies and the counties they serve include:

• Choices Consulting Center: Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo
• Community Howard Behavioral Health: Clinton, Howard, Tipton
• DC USA – Vanderburgh
• Families First Inc – Hancock, Marion
• From This Space – Marion
• Grant-Blackford Mental Health – Lake
• Infinity Counseling and Wellness – Lake
• Innovative Recovery – Marion
• Lakeside Behavioral Solutions – Lake
• LifeSpring Health – Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Orange, Perry, Scott, Spencer, Washington
• Mission 25 – Whitley
• New Living Center – Marion
• Northeastern Center – Dekalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben
• Place of Grace – Huntington
• Planted Seed Ministries – Lake
• Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare – Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick
• Stagz – Marion
• STAR Care – Allen
• Talitha Koum – Hancock
• Together We Can – Marion

The DMHA says it intends for the program to provide data needed to expand the program to include people with misdemeanor charges statewide.