Overview
The overarching mission of the Community Pathways Program is to provide the best avenue to reentry and community success for individuals returning from incarceration under the supervision of the Massachusetts Parole Board. The program works to increase communication, relationship building, and connectedness between Parole staff, supervised individuals, and community providers. By developing and strengthening relationships that help address the needs of individuals on parole, this program maximizes resources available to Parole Officers while improving positive health outcomes and successful reentry, which enhances community safety. Key elements of the program include:
- Ongoing, customized training for Parole staff regarding substance use disorder, behavioral health disorders, and medications for opioid use disorder;
- Continuous development and ongoing engagement with community providers to enhance the delivery of, and access to, care for supervised individuals with substance use disorder and mental health needs;
- Regular/routine access to consultative clinical and pharmacological resources from UMass Chan Medical School for Parole staff; and
- Responsive approaches that effectively balance individual treatment needs with accountability.