Special to IFN
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday announced more than $11 million in funding to community-based diversion programs and re-entry services that strengthen support for people involved in the justice system. Providing alternatives to incarceration when appropriate and supporting people upon their release with things like housing and employment are critical to stop the cycle of justice system involvement, which improves health outcomes for people and efficiency across our health and justice systems.
“More than 50 percent of people in prisons and jails in North Carolina identify as having a mental health need and 75 percent identify as having a substance use disorder. Many of these individuals could have avoided entering or remaining in the justice system had they received the services and supports they need in their communities,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We want to help people avoid incarceration when what they actually need is treatment, and that means improving access to services for people involved in or at risk of entering the justice system.”
Specifically, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition and Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. will be receiving funds to expand their Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program and referrals to community-based services and supports, with an emphasis on regions or localities that have historically lacked the resources to operate these programs. Additionally, Hope Mission, Jubilee Home, Vaya Health, Alamance Academy, and Hope Restorations, Inc. are receiving funds to ensure people involved in the justice system, including those reentering their communities, have access to housing and supported employment services tailored to their needs.
“Within the first two weeks following incarceration, formerly incarcerated people are 40 times more likely to die from an opioid overdose than the general population. And the lasting effects of incarceration for individuals returning to their communities includes post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and chronic health conditions,” said Kelly Crosbie, director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “These investments support systems of care that help people recover, strengthen pathways to community services and prioritize treatment services so that detention is a last resort.”
Diversion programs provide dedicated resources to give law enforcement alternatives to punitive action for addressing low-level non-violent crimes through referrals to treatment or community services. Approaches vary, but it is common for law enforcement to partner with community agencies to support the referral process. Diversion programs provide appropriate safety nets along the way to reduce the chance of a return to jail or prison.
Re-entry programs provide dedicated resources before or immediately after release from incarceration to support people who are making the transition back into their communities. Re-entry programs include guidance and case management support as well as non-medical needs like transportation, housing and employment that are key social drivers of health. The goal of re-entry programs is to reduce the number of people who cycle back into the justice system.
This $11 million funding announcement is part of NCDHHS’ historic $835 million investment to transform behavioral health in North Carolina, which dedicates $99 million to supporting people involved in the justice system by increasing services related to diversion, re-entry and capacity restoration.
Looking ahead, the department plans to leverage the $835 million investment to further expand services and continue to build toward an integrated behavioral health system that works for all North Carolinians. For more information on North Carolina’s investments in behavioral health please see the report: Transforming North Carolina’s Behavioral Health System: Investing in a System That Delivers Whole-Person Care When and Where People Need It. Additionally, information can also be found in the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services Strategic Plan for 2024-2029.