Stepping Up Program
A partnership between SCAMHC and the Covington County Jail — screening every incarcerated individual at booking and connecting those with serious mental illness to case management, community resources, and recovery support to reduce recidivism.
Reentry support starting at booking
SCAMHC and the Covington County Jail have entered into a collaborative agreement to reduce recidivism among individuals with serious mental illness incarcerated in Covington County. SCAMHC provides the Jail with a screening assessment administered to all individuals at booking. Those identified as meeting admission criteria receive case management and care coordination services — including a comprehensive needs assessment, Plan of Care development, referrals to community resources (housing, benefits, medication assistance, financial assistance, and recovery supports), and ongoing monitoring and encouragement. The program recognizes that because of their illness and the fragmentation of social services, people with serious mental illness have considerable difficulty meeting basic life needs — and that addressing those needs reduces both recidivism and psychiatric crisis.
- All individuals booked at the Covington County Jail screened for MI and SUD at intake
- Eligible individuals receive a comprehensive needs assessment and coordinated Plan of Care within 30 days
- DMH-trained Case Manager provides linkage to housing, benefits, medication, transportation, and recovery supports
- Goals: reduce recidivism, reduce incarceration time, and reduce hospitalizations and emergency department visits
What Stepping Up case management includes
Screening at Booking
SCAMHC provides the Covington County Jail with a screening assessment administered by jail personnel to all individuals at booking — identifying those with serious mental illness or co-occurring substance use disorder.
Consumer Needs Assessment
Comprehensive written assessment of assets, deficits, and needs — including socialization, vocational, physical, medical, housing, and resource planning. Maintained in the individual's record.
Plan of Care Development
Systematic, consumer-coordinated Plan of Care listing needs, strengths, and goals — completed within 30 days of contact and reviewed every 6 months, in collaboration with the individual and their support system.
Community Resource Linkage
Coordination of housing, benefits, medication assistance, financial assistance, transportation, health care appointments, and recovery support services through advocacy and service arrangement.
Social Support Development
Assessment of the individual's personal support system. If inadequate or nonexistent, the Case Manager assists in expanding or establishing a network through advocacy and linkage to appropriate persons, groups, or agencies.
Crisis Assistance & Follow-Up
Active assistance through crisis situations and arrangement of Crisis Intervention by other mental health professionals. Progress reviewed at 6-month intervals with Plan of Care revised as needed.
Fewer returns.
Better outcomes.
Real recovery.
The Stepping Up Program is built on a straightforward idea: when seriously mentally ill individuals have their basic needs met and are connected to the right services, they are less likely to return to jail, less likely to end up in the emergency room, and more likely to succeed in the community.
Three core program goals
The Stepping Up Program aims to:
- Identify individuals in the Covington County Jail who need mental health services and facilitate engagement in appropriate services and levels of care
- Reduce the amount of time individuals are incarcerated
- Reduce the frequency with which individuals seek mental health services at a hospital, need to be admitted, or seek care in a hospital emergency department
Admission criteria for Stepping Up
The program serves individuals ages 18 and older who meet SMI or SED criteria and have been incarcerated at the Covington County Jail. There are no exclusions — any individual who is or has recently been incarcerated at the Covington County Jail, meets criteria, and complies with treatment recommendations is eligible.
- Age 18 or older with SMI or SED diagnosis
- Impaired role functioning as defined by the Alabama Department of Mental Health
- One or more marginally met life needs identified during assessment
- Currently or recently incarcerated at the Covington County Jail
- No exclusions: any incarcerated individual who meets criteria and complies with treatment recommendations is eligible
Stepping Up — Covington County Jail Partnership
Case management services are delivered Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After-hours services may be provided on an as-needed basis or in crisis situations with the permission of the Program Director. Contact SCAMHC to learn more about the Stepping Up Program.
