REA Offers Integrated Evaluation In Diverse Study Areas
RE-LINK
Improving Health Outcomes, Reducing Recidivism

Learn more about the evaluation design and data analysis created for partner organization Arbor Circle's RE-LINK program. RE-LINK helps to navigate the transition from incarceration to community.

Read the Case Study
We have successfully completed projects in the following areas:
  • Specialty courts
  • Criminal justice
  • Public health (mental health and SUD)
  • Youth development
  • Economic Mobility

Our team is composed of professionals with expertise in all facets of grant writing, project management, program evaluation, and data analytics. We draw on the diverse experiences of our staff as well as the collaborative expertise of our partners. REA's high level of commitment ensures that projects have the direction and resources to compete for federal and state grant funding, manage grant-funded projects, develop systems to gather and manage data, and use REA-generated reports to improve services for your clients. 

Drug Courts/SUD
Grand Rapids Adult Drug and Sobriety Treatment Court

REA partnered with the 61st District Drug and Sobriety Treatment Court to conduct a comprehensive analysis of their services over the past 6 years.  

The Court provides enhanced treatment for individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental illness at risk of incarceration.

Participants receive wrap-around services, incuding:

  • case management
  • cognitive behavioral therapy
  • peer recovery coaching
  • trauma-informed treatment
Key Outcomes of Drug Courts/SUD
  • Over 60% of participants successfully graduate
  • Program graduates report a decline in felony convictions by 71% compared to a 23% increase among comparison nonparticipants
  • Graduates significantly increase housing and employment rates
  • Program graduation continues to impact recidivism even 3 years after drug court participation
  • Program components of 12-step group attendance, incentives, and moderate sanctions all significantly reduce future recidivism
Public Health
Behavioral Health Home

Network180, in partnership with REA, launched a model of team-based, integrated care for mentally ill individuals in Kent County.  The program utilizes team-based care, evidence-based therapies, continuous enrollment through illness and wellness, and minimizes outside referrals or duplication of paperwork to provide an enhanced patient experience of care.  The program seeks to increase treatment effectiveness to enhance symptom management and reduce long-term health care costs.

Key Outcomes of Public Health
  • Patients in the Behavioral Health Home reduce costs by 71%, while matched nonparticipants increase costs by 15%
  • Reduction in costs is consistent across different mental health diagnoses
  • Participants reduce intensive service and case management costs, while therapy and psychological evaluation costs increase, demonstrating a shift from emergency treatment to symptom maintenance
  • Patients in the Behavioral Health Home show significant decline in both anxiety and depression, indicating reduced costs are paired with effective symptom control
Mental Health
Mental Health Transformation Grant

Network180 partnered with REA to provide comprehensive trauma-related treatment across Kent County.  The project seeks to enhance trauma-informed care across the 9 partnering agencies, as well as to provide ongoing treatment for trauma-afflicted persons in the form of Seeking Safety groups.

Key Accomplishments and Outcomes of Mental Health
  • A total of 552 individuals completed Seeking Safety services over 5 years  
  • Over 700 staff received training in trauma-informed care and Seeking Safety services
  • Seven partnering agencies offer Seeking Safety Services on site
  • Agencies report implementation of key trauma-informed criteria, with significant improvements observed over time
  • Participants in Seeking Safety services report significant declines in both symptoms of trauma, as well as the level of interference of these symptoms with daily functioning
Prisoner Reentry
Valued Community Member

The Valued Community Member (VCM) program provides comprehensive treatment to co-occurring inmates at moderate to high risk of recidivism.  The program utilizes a combination of group and individual therapies combined with substance use treatment to reduce future recidivism among program participants.

Key Outcomes of Prisoner Reentry
  • Participants fully engaged with cognitive behavioral therapy group session show a 40% decline in rearrests, compared to only a 6% decline among matched nonparticipants
  • Participants reduce future jail incarcerations by nearly 60%
  • Pre-release individual therapy and substance use treatment reduce recidivism, while post-release services show little impact due to low participation