Justice Transition Home (JTH)

Brief Description

The Justice Transition Home (JTH) is a Provincial resource that serves as transitional (interim) housing for up to 5 individuals with a developmental disability, a mental health condition and or behavioral challenges, who are either leaving a correctional facility or are under the active supervision of a probation/parole office. In addition, this program is for whom restrictions associated with their release pose barriers to accessing supportive living options and services. 

The JTH is supported through an inter-ministerial partnership between the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Solicitor General (SolGen) and Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG). JTH also partners with local hospitals, community programs, law enforcement, other community health partners, mental health experts and social services in the local community to help rehabilitate individuals in the home.

Goals

The main goals of JTH are to:

• Support rehabilitation of adults with a developmental disability and mental health condition who are either leaving a correctional facility or are under the active supervision of a probation/parole office;
• Provide these individuals with psycho-social supports, skills-building, and strengths-based programming to support them to live more independently or in a supportive living arrangement in a community setting; and
• In the long term, support the person’s integration into a community of their choice and not reoffend.

Clientele

The target population for the JTH program is persons who are 18 years of age or older with a developmental disability, involved in the criminal justice system and eligible for ministry funded developmental services and supports. Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) which is the main point of access for persons seeking ministry funded adult development services and supports makes the referral of individuals to the JTH. The program seeks to help individuals who are:

• Ready to transition from the justice system into the community
• Identified by justice officials as high risk of committing an offence
• Poses a significant risk to the community and themselves
• Have a Developmental Disability and/or dual diagnosis
• Have substance abuse issues or behavioral issues
• Have restrictions associated with their release to community that pose barriers to accessing other ministry funded services and supports
• All potential housing options have been exhausted and are at risk for homelessness

Core Components

The JTH offers rehabilitative, psycho-social, skills-building, and strengths-based programming in a home-like environment for up to 5 individuals at a time. It addresses community living skills so that its residents will have additional support during their process towards social integration, including more intensive management of their complex and multiple needs. As this program is a transitional housing model, a major focus of the program is to transition individuals to suitable permanent housing in the community of their choice throughout the province of Ontario. This is a transitional home with medium term duration for specialized rehabilitation supports which could be a few months or longer duration depending on the support needs of the individual.

Some of the core components of the JTH include:

• 1:1 staffing support for residents during the day and evening. The staffing model is inter-disciplinary and includes Developmental Services Workers and clinical supports as needed.
• On-site personal support and activities such as daily living services, psycho-social rehabilitation programming (including educational upgrading, training and employment supports), healthy meals, life skills training, accompaniment/participation in the community, supports for maintaining personal relationships and family connections as desired, and a full range of social and recreational activities.
• Clinical supports involving assessment and treatment services related to primary health care, psychiatry, psychology, behavioral therapy, and intensive case management.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: The five partner ministries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing to supporting the funding and ongoing operations of the home.JTH is a supported group living, specialized accommodation for persons with a developmental disability and or mental health issue leaving a correctional facility, is operated by developmental services (DS) agency with 24/7 staffing, and has dedicated spaces for adults with persistent, high-risk behavior who need ongoing specialized support to keep them safe from self-harm and/or harm to others as they are supported through rehabilitative programming.
• Partnerships: The JTH is supported through an inter-ministerial partnership between the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) and the Ministry of Health (MOH). The Ministry of Solicitor General (SolGen) and Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) are also supportive inter-ministerial partners. JTH also partners with local hospitals, mental health programs/experts, law enforcement, other community health/behavioural experts and social programming in the local community.
• Training and technical assistance: JTH is required to provide appropriate training to staff working in the home to support and manage the behavior of individuals in collaboration with community partners with expertise in mental health, other related clinical/health and behavior management expertise to support rehabilitation.
• Risk assessment tools: Each individual who utilizes the program has an individual/behaviour support plan which includes support needs and risk factors to manage.
• Materials & resources: JTH Guidelines Monitoring and evaluation approach/tool is in development. 

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

The JTH is operated in the East region of Ontario by a Developmental Services agency and launched in 2018/19.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

The JTH has an annual budget of $1.6 million jointly funded by MCCSS, MOH, MMAH, SOLGEN, and MAG.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services-Community Services Division

315 Front Street

Toronto, ON

Email: DSSB.GENERAL@ontario.ca

Website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-children-community-and-social-services