STAR – Successful Transition and Re-Entry Program

For successful re-entry, ex-offenders need housing, food, medical care, clothing, substance abuse treatment, mental health care, employment, and education. Research shows that re-entry programs that span all three phases of re-entry – preparation, service provision, and long-term support – are most successful.

The STAR program helps inmates with all three of these phases.

Step 1: Preparation

• Meet with clients one-on-one while still incarcerated.
• Use our evidence-based intake assessment to conduct personal interviews. This allows us to get a full picture of their needs.
• Teach life skills, organization, and goal setting.
• Assist in compilation of necessary documents and identifications which will be needed in phase two.

Step 2: Service Provision

• Develop an Individualized Transition Plan including the client’s vision, domains of need, specific goals, action-based strategies and resources.
• Create a comprehensive Transition Team to assist the client in executing the Transition Plan.
• Provide clients with OTA services such as GA/TANF, SNAP and Medicaid.
• Coordinate a warm handoff to additional services such as Medical/Dental, Substance Use Treatment, Mental Health Care, HIV/AIDS Services, Domestic Violence Services, Veterans Service, etc.
• Assist in securing housing and employment opportunities.

Step 3: Long-Term Support and Supervision

• Provide ongoing case management for up to 12 months through continued contact with clients and other service providers.
• Continue to reassess the client’s needs and revisit phase two as needed.
• Reassessments are routinely conducted at 3 and 9 months post release, but can be done at anytime if needed.

Federal and State Benefits

We are the first County in the State to have dually-trained professionals who can determine eligibility for benefits and address social service needs of inmates upon release. Examples: SNAP, GA, TANF and Medicaid.

• A cornerstone of the STAR Program is working with inmates while at MCCF to empower them towards self-sufficiency. One critical aspect is healthcare, for which we teach clients to independently access the open online Medicaid portal.
• Medicaid applications are submitted through the online portal and sent to Conduent where eligibility is determined within 3-5 days, allowing the client to exit the facility with health benefits.

Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT)

The MCCF will now provide a continuum of medication-assisted therapy options to all inmates based on medical necessity.

• Vivitrol ® (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) is a prescription injectable medicine used to treat Alcohol dependence and/or prevent relapse to opioid dependence after alcohol and opioid detox by blocking the effects of these substances.
  • To be effective, Vivitrol must be used with other alcohol or drug recovery programs, such as counseling.
  • A comprehensive screening across several life domains (medical, social, etc) is used to determine candidacy for Vivitrol.
  • The first Vivitrol injection will be given to clients upon release. A warm handoff will be facilitated between the STAR program and other licensed providers for continued care.
• All other medication-assisted therapy options will be determined by the medical staff on an individual basis.

One year of Post-Release Case Management

Leading the way for Re-Entry in the State of New Jersey, The STAR Program continues contact with clients in the community for their first-year post-release.

• The STAR Program meets clients where they are to address barriers to success thus preventing recidivism.
• The strength of the STAR Program’s post-release component relies on partnerships with other service providers in the community. Our partners include the Chamber of Commerce, Employment and Training Services, Health Clinics, and various Non-Profit Organizations, etc.

Before you’re accepted into the STAR program, you will need to sign a Consent Form. Your Pre-Trial Officer will guide you when to fill it out. 

STAR Consent Form

STAR Consent Form in Spanish