Learning collaborative participants will have access to a unique opportunity for states that are leading this groundbreaking work to collaborate, learn from each other, and work with national experts, including The Health and Reentry Project (HARP). Specific opportunities and resources will include:  

• Facilitated peer-learning opportunities 
• National, state, and local subject matter experts 
• State-specific technical assistance 
• Tools and resources to support policy and implementation 

Learning collaborative activities will include: 

Individual Technical Assistance  

Each state team will develop a state-specific strategic work plan, including priorities, goals, action steps, and timelines to be completed during the learning collaborative. Each state team will participate in every other month (and as-needed) technical assistance Zoom calls with NASHP staff and HARP experts to facilitate cross-sector execution of the work plan. States will have the opportunity during these calls to identify and address emerging technical assistance needs. States will have ongoing access to NASHP and HARP staff, who will provide a timely and actionable response to all inquiries, including connections to external experts when necessary to support initiative planning, development, and implementation.  

Possible technical assistance topics include but are not limited to: 

• Strengthening cross-agency and state-to-local partnerships to implement a whole-of-government approach  
• Logistical and operational specifics of implementing Medicaid-covered pre-release services, such as:  
  • Building systems and processes for determining Medicaid eligibility and enrolling beneficiaries pre-release 
  • Operationalizing release dates 
  • Considering and addressing operational and logistical differences for implementation in prisons, jails, and juvenile justice facilities  
  • Provider criteria and selection 
• Strategies to meaningfully engage individuals directly impacted by the policies, programs, and implementation approaches into the policymaking and implementation process 
• Fostering a quality continuum of care across the correctional health care system, state and local health and human services system, corrections, public safety, and community supervision systems to facilitate seamless transition from corrections to communities  
• Fostering relationships with community-based organizations to support the continuum of care and to meet the health-related social needs of people transitioning to their community 
• Developing, advancing, and beginning to implement strategies for data sharing, including for automated information exchange  
• Building provider capacity and addressing workforce needs in corrections, state, and local agencies, and for those providing direct services  
• Developing oversight and accountability strategies and aligning with evaluation approaches 

State-to-State Learning Calls 

State-to-state learning calls will be held approximately quarterly and will include virtual learning opportunities to allow states to hear about work going on in other states, identify areas of shared need, discuss emerging challenges, exchange with people who are directly impacted, and receive expert technical assistance. Topics for each group learning opportunity will be developed collaboratively to meet priority technical assistance needs identified by participating states. There is also the opportunity for affinity group breakouts for cross-state exchange to supplement state-specific calls.  

In-Person Meetings  

Participating state teams will be invited to attend two in-person convenings that will provide additional opportunities for shared learning, teamwork, and expert-informed peer discussion. Meetings will take place during each project year (exact time and location to be determined). Up to four core team members are expected to attend in person, and funding will be available to cover associated travel and meeting expenses. State teams may bring additional members at their own expense.