NCT04523337

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach and Networking - Criminal Justice version (MISSION-CJ) is effective for reducing criminal recidivism and improving other health-related outcomes (substance use, mental health, housing, employment, community integration) among justice-involved, homeless Veterans with a co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
134

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2021

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 28, 2020

Completed
24 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 21, 2020

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 1, 2021

Completed
4.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 27, 2026

Completed
1 day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 28, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

March 17, 2026

Status Verified

March 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.7 years

First QC Date

July 28, 2020

Last Update Submit

March 13, 2026

Conditions

Substance Use DisorderMental Health DisorderHomelessness

Keywords

VeteransCo-Occurring DisorderHomeless Personscrimesubstance-related disordersmental disorders

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Criminal recidivism

    Number of arrests based on records from the California and Massachusetts Department of Corrections records; and arrest and incarceration records from the National Crime Information Center.

    through study completion, on average 15-months

  • Criminal recidivism

    Number of charges based on records from the California and Massachusetts Department of Corrections records; and arrest and incarceration records from the National Crime Information Center.

    through study completion, on average 15-months

  • Criminal Recidivism

    Number of nights in jail or prison based on records from the California and Massachusetts Department of Corrections records; and arrest and incarceration records from the National Crime Information Center.

    through study completion, on average 15-months

Secondary Outcomes (22)

  • Change in Substance use (Alcohol Use Timeline Follow-back -TLFB)

    Baseline, 6-months, 15-months

  • Change in Substance use (Alcohol Use Timeline Follow-back -TLFB)

    Baseline, 6-months, 15-months

  • Change in Substance Use (Illicit Drug Use Timeline Follow back - TLFB)

    Baseline, 6-months, 15-months

  • Change in Substance Use (Illicit Drug Use Timeline Follow back - TLFB)

    Baseline, 6-months, 15-months

  • Change in Trauma Symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 - PCL-5)

    Baseline, 6-months, 15-months

  • +17 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

MISSION-CJ

EXPERIMENTAL

Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration Outreach and Networking- Criminal Justice version (MISSION-CJ) programming targets co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and other related health outcomes faced by justice-involved homeless Veterans through assertive outreach, psychoeducation, and linkages to community-based services.

Behavioral: Maintaining Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration Outreach and Networking- Criminal Justice

Enhanced Usual Care

EXPERIMENTAL

Usual care provided by the mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs, with patients in both groups are enrolled in, in addition to peer support and community outreach case management. Patients receive 2 Peer Support Curriculum sessions per week (24 sessions total). Patients will receive unstructured community outreach and linkage support while enrolled in the mental health residential rehabilitation program. After discharge, patients will continue to receive 1 hour of weekly linkage support per week.

Behavioral: Maintaining Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration Outreach and Networking Peer Support

Interventions

Maintaining Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration Outreach and Networking- Criminal JusticeBEHAVIORAL

Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration Outreach and Networking- Criminal Justice version (MISSION-CJ) programming targets co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and other related health outcomes faced by justice-involved homeless Veterans through assertive outreach, psychoeducation, and linkages to community-based services. Patients will receive 2 hours of MISSION-CJ services per week during and after their stay in the mental health residential rehabilitation program (total of 6-months). Services are delivered using a Critical Time Intervention stepdown approach.

Also known as: MISSION-CJ
MISSION-CJ
Maintaining Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration Outreach and Networking Peer SupportBEHAVIORAL

The MISSION Peer Support Curriculum is rolling entry, and includes 24, one-hour exercises focused on co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, recovery, and community integration.

Also known as: MISSION Peer Support
Enhanced Usual Care

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • (a) are entering a Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP)
  • (b) were arrested and charged and/or released from incarceration in the past 5 years
  • (c) have a co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder (COD)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Central Arkansas VHS John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, Little Rock, AR

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205-5484, United States

Location

VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto, California, 94304-1207, United States

Location

VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA

Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730-1114, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Shaffer PM, Andre M, Smelson D, Cucciare MA, Bruzios KE, Blonigen DM. Criminogenic risk and suicidality among justice-involved homeless veterans with comorbid mental health and substance use disorders. BMC Public Health. 2026 Feb 4;26(1):809. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-26250-6.

    PMID: 41639846DERIVED

  • Bruzios K, Shaffer PM, Blonigen DM, Cucciare MA, Andre M, Byrne T, Smith J, Smelson D. Intervention for Justice-Involved Homeless Veterans With Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Jul 18;14:e70750. doi: 10.2196/70750.

    PMID: 40680272DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related DisordersMental Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders

Study Officials

  • David A. Smelson, PsyD

    VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

  • Daniel M. Blonigen, PhD MA

    VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
Research assistants conducting the 6- and 15-month outcome assessments are blinded to the condition assignment.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
FED
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 28, 2020

First Posted

August 21, 2020

Study Start

July 1, 2021

Primary Completion

February 27, 2026

Study Completion

February 28, 2026

Last Updated

March 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

US(3)