Unite Us pitches closed‑loop referral tool to coordinate reentry services; requests $775,000

Bruce Turner, state network director for Unite Us, asked the committee to appropriate $775,000 to implement a closed‑loop referral platform to coordinate reentry services for people on probation and parole.

Turner described Utah Unite Us as a statewide platform that enables corrections, health providers, workforce agencies and community organizations to make electronic referrals, confirm whether services were delivered, and track outcomes across housing, behavioral health and employment. He said the platform has operated in Utah for more than six years and supports over 500 participating organizations and more than 1,000 programs.

Turner argued the tool fills a coordination gap: referrals are often made by paper or phone, with inconsistent follow‑up, and a shared infrastructure would allow corrections and community partners to identify gaps and measure what reduces recidivism. He said the platform can feed social‑care data into OTRAC and provide longitudinal records of service receipt once someone leaves custody.

Committee members asked about integration with OTRAC, operational support, and whether AP&P (Adult Probation & Parole) had been consulted. Turner and corrections staff said AP&P supports exploring the tool and that an RFP tied to committee goals could allow vendors and state IT to identify the best option.

No appropriation vote was taken at the hearing; proponents and corrections staff agreed to continue technical discussions with committee staff.