Module 5: Community Reintegration

What is community reintegration?

The process of adapting or read acting to the community, school, work, and leisure activities

What does returning home signify?

Social interaction with family, friends, and strangers

Restoring physical function

Basic ADL retraining

Improving cognitive functions

Identifying effective and safe leisure activities

What are typical psychotherapeutic activities/interventions that can be seen in this setting involve…

Social skills

Coping skills

Education and preparation of patient and family about difficulties to anticipate on discharge

Post traumatic stress symptoms

Sleep disturbances

Mood swings including irritability

Sexual dysfunctions

What are things to work on with a someone with mental illness or a history with substance abuse, who is reintegrating into the community?

Social participation through social skills training

IADL training

Supporting work and education opportunities

Cognitive behavioral intervention

What is social skills training?

Training in areas such as interpersonal skills and communication skills to prompt positive social interactions

What is IADL training for those with mental illness and history of substance abuse?

Health management/maintenance

Community mobility

Money management

Organizing and running a home

Domestic skills

Personal self-care

What kinds of cognitive behavioral intervention is used with those with mental illness or a history of substance abuse?

Skills training to be effective in increasing performance outcomes with social functioning, cognitive performance, and improving functional participation in IADLs

How many men and women are in the US currently incarcerated?

2 million

What is the main goal of OT when working with someone who was previously incarcerated? (Regarding community integration)

Work with inmates/previous inmates to develop skills that will help them avoid reincarceration and decrease the amount of recidivism (return to prison after release)

What are 3 important factors to consider when working with reintegrating someone who was previously incarcerated?

Occupational imbalance

Occupational deprivation

Occupational alienation

What is occupational imbalance?

A disruption in a person’s ability to engage in meaningful daily activities due to prison life

What is occupational deprivation?

Environmental influences that prevent the person from acquiring, using, or enjoying something due to prison life

What is occupational alienation?

Feeling of estrangement and powerlessness experienced by individuals who are incarcerated who can not engage in meaningful activities often leading to sense of detachment as a direct result of strict prison environment and lack for control in daily activities

How can OTs help newly released inmates?

Help them develop social skills, life management skills, develop safe leisure activities and other IADLs that will help decrease the rate of falling back into old habits, also help facilitate occupational identity

What 5 interventions were found the most effective with those who were incarcerated?

Occupations and activities

Interventions to support occupations

Education and training

Advocacy interventions

Group interventions

What did inmates respond the best to?

Education and training

What kind of things can vets face when transitioning out of military life?

Threats to their well being, especially when some where active duty

Sense of decreased meaning and comradely

Things like PTSD, depression, TBIs, and somatic symptoms

What are important things to focus on when working with reintegrating a vet?

Social support

Meaningful activity

Coping abilities

Mental health and wellbeing

What are important cognitive behavioral treatment that is used with those who have experience a TBI or other serious injury?

Psychoeducation, support, and coping skills training

What are other important things to focus on when helping those with TBIs or other serious injuries reintegrate back into the community?

Functional skills assessments

Skill development such as teaching strategies

Community based interventions including real world skills training

Social participation support

Home modifications

Caregiver education

Cognitive rehab exercises