Co-Leaders and Members

Work Group Members:

Name	Title	Organization
Evan Ashkin, MD	Professor of Family Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Director, NC Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program	UNC Chapel Hill NC Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program
Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, Ph.D.	Associate Professor	Duke University
Arthur “Les” Campbell, MD	Chief Medical Officer	North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Division of Comprehensive Health Services
Diannee Carden-Glenn	Founder	ekiM For Change
Jordan Dropkin	Coordinator of Juvenile Justice Clinical Programs	NC Department of Public Safety
Zenobia Edwards, MAT, EdS, EdD	Executive Director	Old North State Medical Society
Marie Hartwell Evitt	Government Relations Counsel	North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, Inc.
Jacqueline Gerchman, MBA	Director, Addiction Services	Mission Mobile Medical
Rick Glazier	Director, Law Blanchard Community Law Clinic	Campbell University
Jennifer C. Jackson	Chief Executive Officer	Arise Collective
Peter Kuhns, Psy.D.	Director of Clinical Services and Programs	North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice
Kenneth Lassiter		NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Andrina Scott	-	FIREPITT(Families Increasing Resilience Everyday)
Monica Veno, J.D.	Restorative Justice Specialist	North Carolina Department of Public Safety

Revised: July 15, 2025

Priorities

Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues.
Increase access to multi-systemic therapy, including functional family therapy, for juvenile offenders.
Improve resources and legislation pertaining to jails and prisons to reduce harmful impact of incarceration and foster successful reintegration into the community
Improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, physical illnesses, and mental illnesses.
Expand existing or create Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in jails and prisons or transitioning to and from prison.
Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration.

Action Plan

The Incarceration Work Group is not currently active due to staffing changes and other related circumstances. Consideration is being given to identifying and connecting with other groups across the state engaged in similar work to explore opportunities for alignment for 2025-2026.

Priority	Action Steps
Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues.	Explore juvenile drug court options in North Carolina.
Increase access to multi-systemic therapy, including functional family therapy, for juvenile offenders.	Create a one-pager summarizing the impact of serving the 16-25 age group. (Anita) Work on the draft and content outline for the one-pager. (Anita) Finalize and distribute the one-pager to the group. Explore bringing MSTEA (Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults) program to North Carolina.
Improve resources and legislation pertaining to jails and prisons to reduce harmful impact of incarceration and foster successful reintegration into the community.
Improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, physical illnesses, and mental illnesses.	Explore NCCare360 integration with the adult correction system.
Expand existing or create Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in jails and prisons or transitioning to and from prison.
Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration.

Meeting Schedule

2024-2025 Incarceration Work Group Meeting Schedule

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9:00 to 10:30 am, Microsoft Teams
Next meeting to be determined.

Meeting Notes

Work Group Meeting, Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9:00 to 10:30 am, Microsoft Teams

Attendees: Arthur Campbell, Jacki Gerchman, Gary Junker, Andrina Scott, Nicole Sullivan, Anita Wilson-Merritt; Staff: Ashley Rink

Focus Areas: Policy initiatives targeting the 16-25 age group for crime and mental health issues. Emphasis on juvenile justice, LME MCOs, and the Raise the Age initiative.
Community Engagement: Discussions highlighted programs like Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) and Functional Family Therapy (FFT), and the need for comprehensive health screenings and youth education.
Resource Management: Discussed integrating community organizations with Medicaid expansion, using the NCCare360 platform, and the need for a centralized resource platform for information sharing and reentry councils.
Action Steps:
- Create a one-pager summarizing the impact of serving the 16-25 age group. (Anita)
- Work on the draft and content outline for the one-pager. (Anita)
- Finalize and distribute the one-pager to the group.
- Explore bringing MSTEA (Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults) program to North Carolina.
- Explore juvenile drug court options in North Carolina.
- Explore NC Care 360 integration with the adult correction system.

Readings/Listenings

Past Priorities

2022 NC SHIP Report

What Could Work to Turn the Curve*

2022-2023 Priorities

(Identified by Work Group)

2023-2024 Priorities

(Identified by Work Group)

Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration
Expand existing or create community Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in correctional facilities
Implement standardized, evidence-based programs to reduce recidivism
Improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, physical illnesses, and mental illnesses
Improve conditions in jails and prisons to reduce harmful impact of incarceration and foster successful reintegration into the community
Improve educational outcomes, particularly for young men and boys of color
Increase access to multi-systemic therapy for juvenile offenders
Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues
Reduce intergenerational and neighborhood poverty
Secure funding to develop policies and practices that enhance the courts’ capacity to respond to victims and others who have experienced trauma

Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration
Expand existing or create community Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in prisons and jails or transitioning to and from prison
Improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, physical illnesses, and mental illnesses
Improve resources and legislation pertaining to jails and prisons to reduce harmful impact of incarceration and foster successful reintegration into the community
Increase access to multisystemic therapy for juvenile offenders
Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues

Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration
Expand existing or create community Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in prisons and jails or transitioning to and from prison
Improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, physical illnesses, and mental illnesses
Improve resources and legislation pertaining to jails and prisons to reduce harmful impact of incarceration and foster successful reintegration into the community
Increase access to multisystemic therapy for juvenile offenders
Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues

*Many proposed policies were initially outlined in HNC 2030: A Path Toward Health and further suggested during the 2021 review of the North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan (NC SHIP) through Community Council Sessions and Stakeholder Symposiums (July-September 2021). Additional policies are featured in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “What Works for Health” Evidence Library. Refer to the 2022 NC SHIP Report for more information.