Helping people leaving prison with substance use get connected to healthcare
Health systems innovations for supporting transitions of care for incarcerated people living with substance use disorders
This project tries a nurse-led program that starts before release and continues after to help adults with substance use histories leaving prison connect to medical and addiction care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11348910 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be assigned either to a nurse-led program called CJC-TraC or to enhanced usual care, and the team will follow what happens after you leave prison. CJC-TraC uses in-person meetings before release and phone-based nurse case management after release to set up appointments, medications, and care plans. The research is a two-arm randomized trial enrolling incarcerated adults with a history of substance use and comparing outcomes between the two groups. The team previously ran a pilot in two Wisconsin prisons that showed more people visited outpatient care soon after release.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults incarcerated in participating state prisons who have a history of substance use disorder and are approaching release are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not incarcerated, are under 21, or do not have a history of substance use are unlikely to be eligible or benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help people leaving prison get faster access to outpatient and addiction treatment and lower health risks after release.
How similar studies have performed: A prior single-arm pilot of the same nurse case management program in two Wisconsin prisons nearly doubled the rate of outpatient visits after release, but this randomized trial will provide stronger evidence.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Westergaard, Ryan Patrick — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Westergaard, Ryan Patrick
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.