NEWS RELEASE: Department of Correction Announces New Mental Health Services Provider

7-2-2012 Delaware:

Vendor will also provide treatment for substance abuse, sex offenders & DUI offenders

Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) Commissioner Carl Danberg announced today that Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. (Connections) will take over as the new vendor to provide mental health, substance abuse, sex offender, and DUI treatment to the state’s inmate population. Connections will take over these responsibilities effective today, July 1, 2012.

Connections signed a two-year contract, with the possibility of two, one-year extensions. The total vendor payment for the new contract is $11.9 million.

Five vendors submitted proposals in response to the RFP, including national, regional and local organizations.

“The RFP drew a nice response and we are pleased to have Connections join our team. We look forward to working with them to sustain high-quality mental health and substance abuse programs,” said Danberg. “Having a local company which is already working on re-entry issues in our state, and which has established ties to our communities, can only help individuals who are transitioning back into our communities from prison.”

The current mental health, substance abuse and sex offender treatment contract was awarded to MHM Services, Inc., in 2010. DUI treatment was added to the new contract following legislation implemented last year (House Bill 168 of the 146th General Assembly, signed in August 2011).

“After amicable discussions with MHM on the potential for extending the expiring contract, we mutually decided that putting out an RFP would be the best way to move forward in providing mental health and substance abuse treatment for Delaware’s incarcerated population,” said Danberg.

The DOC’s other medical vendor contracts, Correct Care Solutions and Correct Rx Pharmacy Services, Inc., were recently extended by one year each and therefore not placed out to bid. ..Source.. by WGMD.com