The 2022-2023 Incarceration Work Group identified the following priorities for action planning.

• 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

The Incarceration Work Group identified the following next steps/ action items for each priority. 

• Priority: Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration
  • Communicate with Local Reentry Council (meant to be bridge/hub to connect resources not be a resource) to determine what would be helpful to expand resources in this area.
  • Determine who may be the right contact to initiate this discussion.
  • Start with State Reentry Council Collaborative to elicit what changes to state support or services would affect improvement in reentry resources within the community for…
    • Education and Vocational Training
    • Employment
    • Faith/Community-based Organizations
    • Family Reunification
    • Housing
    • Legal
    • Mental Health, Substance Misuse and Medical
    • Transportation
    • Women and Incarceration
  • Use the database of resources categorized by age groups (child, adolescent, early adulthood, and adult); county; and resource type to identify community resource gaps.
• 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
  • Educate jails on who should be maintained on MAT and what to look for in programs.
  • Provide technical assistance on this subject.
• Improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, physical illnesses, and mental illnesses
  • LMECO discussion to expand resources (keeping in mind that trained personnel not available in those areas).
• Improve resources and legislation pertaining to jails and prisons to reduce harmful impact of incarceration and foster successful reintegration into the community
  • Educate legislators and government leadership on the differences between prisons and jails to effect change and improve legislation and resources.
• Increase access to multisystemic therapy for juvenile offenders
  • Research available diversion resources for juveniles and those age group 18-25 (identified as key group to focus efforts that could significantly impact incarceration rate) pointing out differences and drop-off of services.
• Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues
  • LMECO discussion to expand resources (keeping in mind that trained personnel not available in those areas).

April 18, 2023, 10:00 to 12:00 pm, Work Group Meeting

Co-Leads: Dr. Anita Wilson-Merritt and Jennifer C. Jackson; Absent: Rick Glazier

Attendees: Dr. Gary Junker, Dr. Evan Ashkin, Nicole Sullivan

Discussion:

• Completed a brief review of six policy initiatives. 
  • Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues
  • Increase access to multi-systemic therapy for juvenile offenders
  • Improve conditions (resources/legislation) in 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 community Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in correctional facilities prisons and jails or transitioning to and from prison
    • Suggestion made to differentiate prisons from jails and highlighting the bridge from jail to prison.
• Discussed next steps and/or action items from the previous work group meeting for each of the prioritized policy initiatives. ​​​​​​​
  1. LMECO discussion to expand resources (keeping in mind that trained personnel not available in those areas).
  2. Research available diversion resources for juveniles and those age group 18-25 (identified as key group to focus efforts that could significantly impact incarceration rate) pointing out differences and drop-off of services.
  3. Educate legislators and government leadership on the differences between prisons and jails to effect change and improve legislation and resources.
  4. Educate jails on who should be maintained on MAT and what to look for in programs. Provide technical assistance on this subject.
  5. Communicate with Local Reentry Council (meant to be bridge/hub to connect resources not be a resource) to determine what would be helpful to expand resources in this area.

January 31, 2023, 10:00 to 12:00 pm, Work Group Meeting

Co-Leads: Dr. Anita Wilson-Merritt and Jennifer C. Jackson; Absent: Rick Glazier

Attendees: Dr. Arthur Campbell, Kenneth Lassiter, Dr. Evan Ashkin, Nicole Sullivan

Discussion:

• Completed a brief review of six policy initiatives.
• Identified at least one recommendation for each initiative and specified next steps and/or action items.
  1. Invest in public health alternatives to traditional law enforcement and sentencing, particularly for behavioral health issues
     • LMECO discussion to expand resources (keeping in mind that trained personnel not available in those areas)
  2. Increase access to multi-systemic therapy for juvenile offenders
     1. Research available resources for juveniles including age group 18-25 (identified as key group to focus efforts that could significantly impact incarceration rate) pointing out differences and drop off of services.  
  3. Improve conditions (resources/legislation) in jails and prisons to reduce harmful impact of incarceration and foster successful reintegration into the community
     1. Next step is to educate on the differences to create change (Research how this can be effectively done)
  4. Improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, physical illnesses, and mental illnesses
     1. LMECO discussion to expand resources (keeping in mind that trained personnel not available in those areas)
  5. Expand existing or create community Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in correctional facilities
     1. Next step is to educate jails on who should be maintained on MAT and what to look for in programs/ provide technical assistance
  6. Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration
     1. Communicate with Local Reentry Council (meant to be bridge/hub to connect resources not be a resource) to determine what would be helpful to expand resources in this area
• The next Incarceration Work Group meeting will be on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 10:00 to 12:00 pm via Microsoft Teams.

October 18, 2022, 10:00 to 12:00 pm, Work Group Meeting

Co-Leads: Dr. Anita Wilson-Merritt; Absent: Jennifer C. Jackson and Rick Glazier

Attendees: Dr. Arthur Campbell, Gary Junker, Dr. Evan Ashkin, Nicole Sullivan, Marie Evitt

Discussion:

• Provided a brief overview of the North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan (NC SHIP). Reviewed roles and responsibilities for work group members. Shared that the Co-Leads had prioritized 6 of the 10 proposed policies.
• Discussed each of the prioritized policies, including related resources, programs, funding, partners, and clarifications needed to move the policies forward. 

August 16, 2022, 10:00 to 12:00 pm, Co-Lead Planning Meeting 

Co-Leads: Dr. Anita Wilson-Merritt and Jennifer C. Jackson; Absent: Rick Glazier 

Discussion:

• Reviewed NC SHIP proposed policies/programs and prioritized 6 of 10 policies. 
  • Ensure access to behavioral health treatment, adequate medical care, and stable housing for those returning from incarceration
  • Expand existing or creating community Medication Assisted Treatment programs for people with substance use disorder detained in correctional facilities
  • 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
  • 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
• Reviewed list of potential work group members for the work group meeting on October 18, 2022.  
• Planned to add behavioral health representation.