1. COR I Z O N HEALT H PART N E R S WIT H IND IAN A
DEPAR T M E N T OF COR R E C T I O N S ON REE N T R Y
EFF O R T S
Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) has contracted with Corizon Health and
Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC) to provide the new Parole Re-Entry Liaison
Program. The program’s mission is to “empower identified parolees to address and
remedy the circumstances that resulted in their incarceration via collaboration and
referral with appropriate community resources and support to provide an improved
chance of individual success.”
Currently, IDOC has ten parole districts supervising approximately 10,000 adults and
juveniles. One Parole Re- Entry Liaison (PRL) is located in each Parole District. These
liaisons work with parolees who have been identified with health, mental health, and
substance abuse needs. Those in need of services can be referred to PRLs while still
incarcerated or at any point while on parole.
Eligible parolees have been identified in facilities by health administrators, psychiatrists,
nurses, case managers, and in the community by Parole Agents, other Re-Entry
Liaisons and even community providers. Participation in the program is, of course,
voluntary.
Upon referral, PRLs make contact with parolees and set up an intake interview. During
the interview, parolees and PRLs collaborate to identify the parolee’s goals and needs.
Once these are determined, the liaison will work with the parolee to create a plan to
meet his/her immediate and long-term needs. Many times, parolees can access
services on their own once they are pointed in the right direction. The most common
needs are mental health counseling, psychiatric medications, substance abuse
treatment, primary care clinics, public transportation, housing, food pantries, state
identification/driver’s license, and benefits to pay for treatment services. Liaisons can
work with parolees for up to a year and length of engagement depends upon parolee’s
needs and desire to work with the PRL. In essence, liaisons serve as case managers,
advocates, and cheerleaders for their clients on the clients’ terms.
Liaisons spend time building bridges with community agencies to decrease barriers for
parolees. Each community agency has its own intake procedures, policies, and targeted
populations. Liaisons become experts on their district’s multitude of community
agencies. Additionally, the stigma of incarceration and felony conviction(s) creates
major barriers to accessing important services and liaisons become educators to
community service providers about the IDOC and offender population.

2. PRLs are currently working with about 400 parolees statewide. Since October 2014,
PRLs have referred 158 parolees for outpatient mental health treatment, 161 for
substance abuse treatment, and 60 for medical treatment. PRLs have created
community partnerships with 208 community organizations