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THRIVE helps Summit County inmates overcome mental health and substance abuse issues

Inmates at the Summit County Jail now have the opportunity to work with social workers through a program called THRIVE. The goal of the program is to prepare inmates for life after release and help them navigate life outside of prison.

The program, which now includes temporary housing for men, began last year and has helped about 200 people struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues.

The goal is to reduce recidivism and overdose rates among program participants while connecting them to the various social programs and treatment centers in Summit County.

This two-pronged program is the brainchild of Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree and her colleagues at Summit Psychological Associates and was born after nearly three years of continuous planning.

“It's about how we overcome obstacles and navigate these systems,” Fatheree said. “Between mental health issues, substance abuse and trauma, trying to navigate these systems is overwhelming.”

What is THRIVE?

The transition program, THRIVE – which stands for transition, help, recovery, independence, value and empowerment – began in May 2023, said Deborah Walsh, COO of Summit Psychological Associates.

Inmates who participate in the voluntary program are assigned to case managers at Summit Psychological, she said.

“Inmates have the choice to join, drop out and rejoin therapy,” Walsh said. “We want people who are engaged in treatment.”

Case managers accompany their clients before and after their discharge to determine their needs for the rest of the program.

“Many inmates receive services in prison, but we want them to continue to use those services, continue to take their medications and go to therapy,” Walsh said.

To that end, case managers are trained to maintain an open channel of communication with their clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They often help their clients with tasks such as locating relatives, seeking treatment options, and keeping appointments.

A roof to thrive

There is also a recent addition to THRIVE House, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week program for men who have recently been released from prison, have nowhere to go, and need continued care after their release.

With 14 beds, it is a short-term program that helps people find a more permanent home. There are also case managers and other staff who provide clients with mental health and substance abuse treatment programs and medication, Fatheree explained.

Although living space is limited, Fatheree would like to see it expanded to include another facility dedicated to supporting women with similar needs.

How is the program financed?

The THRIVE program is funded by money Summit County receives from the national opioid settlement and from property taxes, Fatheree said.

The home is funded by the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, she said.

Is THRIVE successful?

A year after its founding, THRIVE has achieved many of its goals, according to figures provided by Ruthann Paulus-Bland, deputy director of Summit County Jail Services.

Paulus-Bland explained that the program's success will be measured by several factors, ranging from the number of inmates who applied for Medicaid after their release to the number who attended three appointments within 30 days of their release.

But the most important factor they measure is reported overdoses and new criminal charges, which have mostly remained low, she said. One goal is for 50% of clients who have been in the program for three months to have no new criminal charges.

From October 1 to December 31, 2023, the program treated 149 clients. Of those three-month clients, 2% had a new charge. That percentage increased to 44% in the next quarter, but dropped to 11% by June 2024.

Paulus-Bland explained that the average time without a new charge for THRIVE inmates is four months, while it is less than 30 days for those outside the program. The Summit County Jail also stated that the behavior of inmates in the program has improved compared to those outside THRIVE, she said.

The story behind THRIVE

For Fatheree, the Summit County Jail, like other county jails, has become a modern-day psychiatric hospital. She said many inmates suffer from mental illness, are homeless and have a history of trauma and substance abuse.

“It is, in fact, a psychiatric hospital,” she said. “It should not be a dumping ground for people with mental illnesses.”

In her 30 years with the Summit County Sheriff's Office, where she also worked part-time in the jail and courts, Fatheree learned how these problems complicate everyday life.

Over the years, she envisioned a program like THRIVE and how it could help those who often fall through the gaps in benefits. Due to a combination of factors, people can become overwhelmed by the welfare system.

When she was elected sheriff in 2020, she decided to put this imaginary program into action by working with Walsh and Paulus-Bland.

“It’s about helping people have a life,” Fatheree said.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. Reach him by email at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @bryce_buyakie.

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