Monday, April 29, 2024
4/29/2024
Coastal Horizons Center (CHC), in partnership with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO), the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), & Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) proposes to expand the treatment & recovery support services provided by two Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs located in Wilmington & Fayetteville, NC. LEAD “…is a pre-arrest criminal justice diversion program for people living in the community who use drugs & are at risk of being charged with low-level criminal offenses…” in addition to above partners, this project will be carried out with multiple treatment, housing, employment, vocational, criminal justice, & recovery support partners. Both LEAD programs began in the mid-2000s & serve adults (18+) with a possible substance use or co-occurring disorder that come into contact with NHCSO, WPD, or FPD (population of focus). A potential participant can be referred from law enforcement via an arrest diversion (e.g., encounter occurs as part of a criminal incident) or a social referral (e.g., contact in the community with law enforcement). The LEAD programs will provide evidence-based treatment services such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Medication for Addiction Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, & Matrix Model. In addition, psychiatric services, detox, assertive community treatment teams, recovery housing, employment, financial literacy, & transportation will be provided. CHC will continue to co-facilitate quarterly meetings of the LEAD Coordinating Group (behavioral health partnership workgroup) in both NHC & CC. These groups are comprised of executive representatives from criminal justice (i.e., District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement agencies, judiciary) & behavioral health service providers. These same groups will conduct an early diversion community system mapping exercise designed to identify current initiatives within NHC & CC at each intercept (0-5). A focus for these groups will be to develop & monitor procedures or protocols for coordination with law enforcement, local crisis, & 988 systems on pre-arrest/booking diversion efforts. The LEAD Coordinating Groups will also develop a calendar of training events to be completed in the first 6 months & over the grant period. These trainings will target law enforcement officers, attorneys, judges, civilian first responders, paraprofessionals & other professionals. The proposed project has four goals: 1) divert adults with a mental health disorder or co-occurring disorder from the criminal justice system to community-based mental health, substance use disorder, & other supports prior to arrest & booking in a culturally competent manner; 2) build collaborative partnerships among relevant treatment & recovery support services agencies within NHC & CC; & 3) build community capacity in order to better meet the needs of individuals with mental health & co-occurring disorders that come into contact with law enforcement; & 4) evaluate the project. The proposed project will serve 50 individuals per year across the five-year grant period. Thus, a total of 250 adults will be served with grant funds.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
