Tuesday, June 10, 2025
6/10/2025
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND MAT SERVICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE POPULATION IN MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ - Abstract: The criminal justice system is struggling to address the needs and manage individuals with Opioid Use Disorders (OUD). Most U.S. correctional facilities do not continue or initiate Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). As a consequence, the highest rates of opioid overdose occur after release from incarceration. Incarcerated individuals with an OUD are a captive audience, often highly motivated to voluntarily agree to MAT enrollment as an opportunity for court diversion, or upon discharge from jail. Our proposal aims to increase MAT access and other supportive services to individuals with OUD in the criminal justice system. The comprehensive program will include a full array of treatment, coordinated and integrated care, recovery support services, and prevention activities to increase the treatment rate of individuals with OUD encountering the criminal justice system. The population served includes individuals with OUD who are justice involved with the Maricopa County criminal justice system, constituting a very large concentration of individuals with OUD. Maricopa County is the fourth largest county in the United States and home to Phoenix, AZ as well as the fourth largest jail system in the nation. This project will serve 200 persons with OUD annually and 600 persons throughout the lifetime of the project. We have assembled an exceptional partnership dedicated to improving outcomes for both individuals and systems through the use of MAT services. Relevant stakeholders have exceptionally strong commitment and include: the presiding chief justice, the sheriff, chief probation officer of Maricopa County probation, and the medical director of the correctional health system along with community behavioral health providers. Using the Collective Impact Model, the partnership will work to build funding mechanisms and service delivery models to provide improved treatment and recovery support services that effectively treat individuals with OUD and facilitate long-term recovery. There are six major goals that will be accomplished: 1) Increase capacity to identify individuals with OUD in Maricopa County Jail, the Municipal Court, and community probation to provide MAT education/connection to services; 2) Increase early engagement for detained individuals with OUD by Recovery Support Staff (RSS); 3) Increase the number of detained individuals who leave jail with a warm transfer to a MAT provider for immediate connection to an intensive engagement model; 4) Increase identification of incarcerated Native Americans with OUD to increase MAT education and treatment engagement with a culturally informed service model that incorporates traditional healing practices as well as a full continuum of services; 5) Develop an infrastructure for early release and diversion programs with the City of Phoenix Municipal Court for individuals with OUD; and 6) Within the Sequential Intercept Model, implement a successful collective impact initiative. A number of measurable objectives are identified and will be evaluated through a comprehensive, formative, and summative evaluation.
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).