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Group interventions for persons with co-occurring disorders of serious mental illness (SMI) and alcohol or other substance use disorders may positively affect participants' substance use, criminal justice contacts, and transition to community supports and community living. We report on a group intervention with wraparound peer support that, in earlier research, has shown promise regarding these domains. We provide a detailed description and discussion of the intervention, including case vignettes. We also discuss future research on this intervention and offer recommendations for additional research in this area and with this target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many organizations that provide services to individuals with behavioral health disorders are required to include people with psychiatric disabilities on their boards and action groups, yet this requirement rarely results in successful, ongoing representation. We report on a pilot project that trained people who were homeless and formerly homeless, most of whom were diagnosed with behavioral health disorders, for internships on boards and action groups that provide services to people who are homeless. We relate the project's goals to the theme of empowerment, present our findings, discuss key implementation issues, and offer recommendations for future program efforts and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the usefulness of recognition theory, recovery, and citizenship in explaining constructions of community by adults who have experienced life disruptions participating in similar citizenship programs in the United States and Scotland. A content analysis of secondary data was undertaken and focus groups held with recent graduates of both programs. The findings indicate that constructions of community aligned significantly with aspects of identity and common experience rather than location. Moving toward an identity framed by assets rather than deficits was further identified, which reflects the need for recognition to be extended by communities that are well informed and nondiscriminatory in their attitudes toward those with life disruptions to promote inclusion and connectedness. Interventions at the level of community development and engagement are therefore crucial in promoting inclusion and increasing citizenship for marginalized groups alongside the role of social movements and public policy in tackling stigma and discriminatory attitudes. Uniquely, within this project, a theoretical framework that combined elements of recognition theory, recovery, and citizenship emerged that best explained the experience of those with life disruptions and provided direction for a future focus on community development as well as recovery and citizenship-oriented practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mutual-aid groups for people in recovery from mental illness, addictions, and former incarceration are virtually nonexistent. This article provides a review of the literature on mutual-aid groups for people who have previous incarceration histories and a review of groups for people with mental illness and multiple concerns (i.e., co-occurring diagnoses). Next, we present the “What's Up?” group, a component of the Citizenship Community Enhancement Project, as an example of a mutual-aid group that was developed to better address these multiple concerns. The “What's Up?” group was designed as a mutual-aid component for individuals living with mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse concerns who also have a history of previous involvement with the criminal justice system. Experiences of participants highlight ways in which the “What's Up?” group provided opportunities for its members to not only “give back” but to “get something back” from the sharing of experiences and feedback offered from their peers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We conducted focus groups comprising 20 grassroots community leaders to identify social and structural elements that affect community engagement among people with serious mental illnesses. Community leaders not affiliated with mental health systems have been mostly left out of the discussions about inclusion and engagement, even though they possess unique information about the places where they live and can be essential partners in making community connections. The findings from the focus groups point to elements that both facilitate and inhibit connections, as well as roles community mental health practitioners may take on, to engage with community leaders and people with mental illness to minimize barriers and foster connections in community settings. Additionally, the focus groups elucidated the interplay between the right to be a member of one's community and a community's responsibility to create a welcoming environment. The current study garnered information regarding the broader needs and implications of community connections, as well as some specific suggestions to enhance community engagement among people with serious mental illness. Hesitation and stigma around engaging individuals with mental illnesses were identified as barriers to inclusion. Further study about how community leaders and groups may be involved in facilitating meaningful community connections is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measure of citizenship was developed and validated by Rowe and colleagues (O’Connell, Clayton, & Rowe, 2017). The items clustered around the 5 Rs of citizenship as defined by Rowe et al.: relationships, rights, resources, roles, and rights, and a sense of belonging. Although a measure has its utility in clinical settings, to address time constraints and other administrative burdens expressed by providers in their day-to-day practice, a citizens tool was developed as a practical way that providers can enhance dialogue between providers and clients on citizenship for clients served in mental health and criminal justice reentry settings. This article describes the development of the tool, testing of the tool’s utility with case managers, and implications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study assessed the effectiveness of an intervention based on a theoretical framework of citizenship on reducing psychiatric symptoms, alcohol use, and drug use, and increasing quality of life for persons with serious mental illness (SMI) and criminal justice involvement. One-hundred fourteen adults with SMI and a history of criminal justice involvement participated in a 2 × 3 longitudinal randomized controlled trial of a four-month citizenship intervention versus usual services. Linear mixed model analyses were used to assess the intervention's impact on quality of life, symptoms, and substance use. After controlling for baseline covariates, participants in the experimental condition reported significantly increased quality of life, greater satisfaction with and amount of activity, higher satisfaction with work, and reduced alcohol and drug use over time. However, individuals in the experimental condition also reported increased anxiety/depression and agitation at 6 months (but not 12 months) and significantly increased negative symptoms at 12 months. Findings suggest that community-oriented, citizenship interventions for persons with SMI and criminal justice histories may facilitate improved clinical and community outcomes in some domains, but some negative clinical findings suggest the need for post-intervention support for intervention participants. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]