Individuals who are re-entering the community from prison and their families may be involved in multiple public systems - including, among others, parole/probation, TANF, child welfare, addiction treatment, mental health, child support, SSI, and Medicaid. These public systems can have different expectations about how re-entering individuals should fulfill their respective agencies' requirements and can, accordingly, place conflicting requirements on the families involved in more than one system. For example, the work requirements of TANF and the food stamp program may make it impossible for an individual released from prison to participate in mental health or drug treatment that is required under the terms of his or her parole or probation. ^[1]  

The multiple systems involved in these families' lives should improve their collaboration to ensure that their requirements do not work at cross-purposes. To facilitate collaboration, these systems could assign staff liaisons to communicate information across agencies, establish formal cross-agency advisory groups, cross-train staff members, and use multi-agency teams to develop a joint service plan and jointly manage cases. Community-based, private agencies serving re-entering individuals, such as substance abuse treatment programs and employment agencies for people with criminal records, should also be involved in the collaborative process, where possible and appropriate.

Even after people have been found eligible for benefits, logistical issues, such as the lack of a bank account, can make it difficult for individuals to access the benefits and other assets (such as wages earned while incarcerated) to which they are entitled once they are released from prison. Corrections administrators and transition planners should seek to eliminate barriers to access through partnerships with other state agencies and community-based providers.

Example: Offender debit cards, Oregon Department of Corrections and Oregon Department of Human Services

Building on the Oregon Trail Card model developed by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) for food stamps and other public assistance, the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) now gives individuals leaving Oregon prisons "Offender Debit Cards" instead of checks for any money they have earned while incarcerated. The cards can be used at most automatic teller machines for cash or for purchases at point-of-sale machines in stores that accept the Oregon Trail Card. In addition, because the Offender Debit Card is identical to the Oregon Trail Card administered by DHS, inmates eligible for public assistance can access those benefits from the cards issued by the DOC.