ARcare awarded $1 million for incarceration transition healthcare services

ARcare, a leading provider of comprehensive healthcare, and Arkansas’ largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support people returning to the community after prison.

The funding is part of a $52 million national initiative to improve healthcare access and outcomes for people reentering society after incarceration. ARcare is the only organization in Arkansas to receive this award.

The grant, part of HRSA’s Quality Improvement Fund – Transitions in Care for Justice-Involved Populations (QIF-TJI), will allow ARcare to lead a collaborative effort in White County. The Justice-Involved Reentry Program will partner with the White County Sheriff’s Office, Restore Hope-100 Families Program, and the Literacy Council of White County to provide comprehensive healthcare and social support services for individuals in their final 90 days of incarceration.

The program will address critical areas such as chronic disease management, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, reducing the risk of overdose, infectious disease prevention and care, plus social support services to help individuals meet their goals of recovery, family reunification, and steady employment.

“This funding represents an opportunity to break the cycle of recidivism by addressing health and social barriers that justice involved individuals face. By providing care and support before their release, we can ensure a smoother transition back into the  community, reducing risks and fostering healthier outcomes. ARcare is committed to building partnerships that create lasting change for individuals and families in White County,” said ARcare CEO Dr. Steven Collier.

ARcare’s program will run from December 1, 2024, through November 30, 2026, and aims to pilot innovative approaches that reconnect justice-involved individuals to high-quality, community-based healthcare.

“This partnership with ARcare, 100 Families, and the Literacy Council allows us to provide essential health and support services that continue after release, giving individuals the tools they need to succeed and stay out of jail. A safer detention facility and reduced inmate population ultimately benefit everyone in our community,” said White County Sheriff Phillip Miller.