This article evaluates the adoption and sustainment of Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at reducing recidivism, within the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Following a national training initiative, the study used surveys and qualitative interviews across 66 VHA facilities to assess the implementation of MRT. It found that 79% of facilities adopted the therapy, and 58% sustained it. Key factors in sustainment included cross-agency collaborations, staffing support, referral screening, and adaptations to therapy delivery. The findings provide practical insights for implementing MRT in non-correctional healthcare settings.
This course is based on the reading-based online article, Recidivism Treatment for Justice Involved Veterans created by Daniel M. Blonigen, PhD et al in 2021.
Publication Date
Administration & Policy in Mental Health & Mental Health Services Research January 30, 2021
Course Material Authors
Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.
Daniel M. Blonigen, PhD
Dr. Daniel M. Blonigen is a clinical psychologist and research scientist at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University. He specializes in justice-involved veterans and implementation science. He has had multiple works published in peer-reviewed journals.
Paige M. Shaffer, MPH
Paige is a research health scientist at the Bedford VA Medical Center and University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is experienced in health services research and the implementation of behavioral health interventions. She has had multiple works published in peer-reviewed journals.
Allison Brown holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice with a Psychology focus and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently works at a Long-Term Insurance company bringing clinical experience to claim processes. Additionally, she developed and continues to lead the Continuing Education Program for Social Workers and Nurses and often leads complex process improvement projects Prior to this, her primary focus was in mental health and worked in both the outpatient and inpatient settings providing support to adults with mental illness.
Recommended For
Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and above levels of knowledge.
Course Objectives:
After taking this course, you should be able to:
Identify key organizational and inter-agency factors that support the sustainment of MRT in healthcare systems serving justice-involved populations.
Describe the adaptations made to MRT content and delivery to fit the needs of veterans in non-correctional settings.
Analyze implementation challenges and strategies that can inform future rollout of evidence-based recidivism interventions within healthcare environments.
Availability
This course is available starting Jul 24th, 2025 and expires Jul 23rd, 2035
Disclosure to Learners
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited
Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity –
including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial
relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).
The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and
the reviewer:
Planners and Reviewers
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.
Material Authors
Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.
Course Creator
Allison Brown, LCSW 149014591 – No relevant financial relationships.
Commercial support
There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.
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