The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), awarded grants to community organizations to expand and/or enhance reentry services to young offenders with substance use disorders on release. This report evaluates the Substance Use Treatment and Reentry (STAR) Program of Homeboy Industries, Inc., in collaboration with Behavioral Health Services, Inc., and the RAND Corporation.

Substance Use Treatment and Reentry (STAR) Program

Final Evaluation Report

Sarah B. Hunter, Christina Y. Huang

ResearchPublished Apr 28, 2014

Substance use disorders are common among juvenile justice populations, and few resources exist to address this problem as young offenders transition into the community upon release. To address this need, in October 2010, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), awarded three-year grants to community-based organizations to expand and/or enhance substance abuse treatment and recovery and reentry services to sentenced offenders returning to the community. Homeboy Industries, Inc., in collaboration with Behavioral Health Services, Inc., and the RAND Corporation, was awarded a grant to serve up to 220 16–25-year-olds recently released from juvenile detention to receive substance use treatment and recovery services at Homeboy Industries in downtown Los Angeles. This report represents the evaluation of that Substance Use Treatment and Reentry (STAR) Program. Ninety-four percent of the proposed population was enrolled into the program. Ninety percent of participants received at least one substance use treatment session, and 73 percent successfully completed the five-session treatment in six months. Analysis of the client outcome data following participation showed improvements or stability over time in housing and social connectedness. Over 70 percent of participants who completed a 12-month interview reported continued employment, and self-reported arrests were below 15 percent. Abstinence rates did not change much throughout the project (about 30 percent); however, those reporting use at intake showed reductions in use over time. These findings reveal a continued need among the population for substance use treatment and recovery support.

Key Takeaways

The STAR Program improved or stabilized housing and social connectedness

  • With 94 percent of the proposed population enrolled into the program and 73 percent successfully completing the five-session treatment, analysis of the client outcome data showed improvements or stability over time in housing and social connectedness.

The STAR Program stabilized employment and held self-reported arrests below 15 percent

  • Over 70 percent of participants who completed a 12-month interview reported continued employment. Self-reported arrests were below 15 percent.

The STAR Program reduced substance abuse among those using at intake

  • Substance abstinence rates did not change much throughout the project (about 30 percent); however, those reporting use at intake showed reductions in use over time.

Topics

Document Details

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Hunter, Sarah B. and Christina Y. Huang, Substance Use Treatment and Reentry (STAR) Program: Final Evaluation Report. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2014. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR572.html.
BibTeX RIS

The research described in this report was sponsored by Homeboy Industries and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and was conducted in the Safety and Justice Program within RAND Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment.

This publication is part of the RAND research report series. Research reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND research reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.