Our Work
The majority of people who are in prison, jail, or other correctional facilities will ultimately return to their communities. This transition from incarceration to community can be very challenging as the current system of care at reentry is fragmented, inefficient, and leaves people struggling to access the health care they need for successful second chances. Yet research indicates that stronger access to health care at reentry can improve both peoples’ health and public safety.
A broad set of stakeholders have united to drive reentry policy changes to fill these gaps in the system. These reforms include changing long standing Medicaid rules, increasing access to community health center services, and strengthening Medicare policies. They have the potential to save lives, improve health, and reduce future involvement with the criminal justice system.
HARP brings together diverse stakeholders from health care and criminal justice, including law enforcement, corrections, and health care leaders; community based organizations and advocates; and people and communities directly impacted by crime and incarceration, to make systematic changes that improve health and safety. We offer policy education and analysis to strengthen commonsense reentry policies with a goal of improving safety and health. HARP also advances implementation so that policies are translated into real, effective solutions that improve lives and communities. Collaboration and creating partnerships across sectors is at the center of our work.
Our Goal
Improving the health and safety of people and communities
We advance policies and practices that improve health care access in order to:
- Build safer communities by improving access to services that can address risk factors associated with justice system involvement, including recidivism.
- Promote successful rehabilitation and greater economic security by addressing health-related barriers so people are healthier and better equipped to secure jobs, provide for their families, and succeed as they return to communities.
- Reduce the burden of health care conditions like diabetes, heart disease, mental illness, and substance use by ensuring that people who are transitioning from corrections to communities receive quality health care.
- Use public resources more efficiently to reduce downstream spending on hospitals, emergency rooms, prisons and jails, and lower societal costs, such as those associated with homelessness and family separation.
Our Approach
Provide Expert Policy Analysis
HARP is a national organization providing information and analysis on policies to improve access to health care for people who are returning to communities from incarceration. HARP develops practical resources to promote policy understanding for a wide range of audiences—including corrections administrators, health care providers, national and community organizations, and policymakers at all levels.
Support On-the-Ground Implementers
HARP directly supports state and local governments by translating new policies into strong implementation approaches through technical assistance. HARP’s experienced team of leaders helps state Medicaid and corrections agencies, sheriffs, county level health and safety leaders, and others identify implementation challenges and the most effective strategies for overcoming them.
Bridge Systems to Advance Change
The criminal justice and health care systems, each with its own cultures, goals, and infrastructure, need to partner closely to make health and reentry policies a success. HARP builds cross-sector relationships to learn from and with people and organizations that bring diverse experiences and perspectives on reentry and the impact of reforms on systems and people. We distill insights from these collaborations to create and advance a shared vision for change.
