SAMHSA’S GAINS Center Seeks Experienced Trainers to Participate in Trauma-informed Responses Train-the-Trainer Event for Individuals January 11, 2019 | Announcements | SAMHSA's GAINS Center SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, operated by Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA), is known nationally for its work regarding people with behavioral health needs involved in the criminal justice system. Each year, the GAINS Center provides its trauma-informed responses training, How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses, to the field… Read More
Q&A With Hon Linda Davis, 41B District Court Judge, President of Families Against Narcotics December 17, 2018 | Announcements | SAMHSA's GAINS Center Question: As a former prosecutor, a current judge, and president of Families Against Narcotics (FAN), you have several vantage points on working with individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance use disorders. What are one or two key insights gained through these multiple lenses that you believe are important for your colleagues in behavioral health,… Read More
Drug Courts’ Evolution Toward Children and Family Services December 17, 2018 | Announcements | SAMHSA's GAINS Center Sid Gardner, President of Children and Family Futures An evolution is underway in adult drug courts (ADCs) that are moving toward serving children and families affected by their relatives’ substance use disorders. Many drug court clients have children. When a parent experiences physical, mental, or other disabilities, their family is impacted. Nationwide, approximately 8.7 million… Read More
Coping With Pain: Understanding the Role of Opioids and Supporting Our Justice-involved Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families November 21, 2018 | | SAMHSA's GAINS Center Michelle N. Cleary, M.A., Senior Project Associate and Philip Paty, Project Assistant, SAMHSA’s Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center, Policy Research Associates During the month of November, we celebrate Veterans Day (11/11) and the Marine Corps birthday (11/10). We also recognize it as the Month of the Military Family. This spotlight on… Read More
Spotlight on Peers Working in Criminal Justice Settings: Christina Love November 20, 2018 | | SAMHSA's GAINS Center Christina Love is Training Project Specialist with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault My name is Christina Love. I am Alutiiq/Sugpiaq (Aleut) and a trauma survivor who has experienced co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. I currently work as a specialist on intersectionality for Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,… Read More
Q&A with Police Chief Brandon del Pozo, Burlington, Vermont November 19, 2018 | Announcements | SAMHSA's GAINS Center Question 1 In your response to the obituary of Maddie Linsenmeir, you list 12 strategies that communities can use to lower the number of fatal overdoses and addiction-related deaths. Many of the strategies you mention relate to public health/medicine. Question 1a What do you envision as the ideal relationship between law enforcement and public health… Read More
Point-of-service Information Sharing Between Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Partners: Addressing Common Misconceptions October 29, 2018 | Announcements | SAMHSA's GAINS Center By Melissa Reuland Information sharing across behavioral health and criminal justice systems is critical to reducing the number of people with mental and substance use disorders in jails. At the point of service, the availability of information related to the person’s treatment history and condition can enhance safety, improve the individual’s health, and support recovery… Read More
Q&A With Najja Morris, National Support Bureau Director, LEAD October 29, 2018 | Announcements | SAMHSA's GAINS Center Tell us about your work with Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD). What does a typical week look like? Who are the people and organizations you work with regularly? My work at LEAD consists of overseeing all activities related to the National Support Bureau’s effort to support replication nationally through technical assistance and advice. We do… Read More
Creating Disparity Impact Statements to Optimize Early Diversion in Reducing Disparities October 29, 2018 | | SAMHSA's GAINS Center Why Disparity Impact Statements Matter Across behavioral health and criminal justice systems, there are well documented disparities in services for and poorer outcomes among groups of different cultures or ethnic backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations. To address these problems, it is important that agencies and institutions clearly understand the groups they serve and develop strategies… Read More
PRA Announces 2018 Partnership with IPH in Regional Food Bank Adopt-A-Program October 15, 2018 | Announcements | Holley Davis Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) is proud to announce that it is partnering again with Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless (IPH) in this year’s Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York’s Adopt-A-Program. PRA’s donation match will support IPH’s efforts in serving individuals and families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in the Capital Region. PRA will… Read More
Spotlight on Peers Working in Criminal Justice Settings: Reintegration, Family, and Peer Support September 17, 2018 | | SAMHSA's GAINS Center By Kevin Cleare, Peer Support Implementation Coordinator at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene I came home from prison in 2007 with the assistance of a peer organization that developed a relationship with me while I was incarcerated. The organization, called Hands Across Long Island (HALI), employs peers with lived experience… Read More
Racial and Ethnic Disparities at the Intersection of Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice: A Message to Communities September 17, 2018 | | SAMHSA's GAINS Center In April 2018, SAMHSA’s GAINS Center convened a Best Practices Implementation Academy for local behavioral health, law enforcement, and criminal justice teams focused on reducing justice involvement among people with mental and substance use disorders. One plenary of the conference focused on considering racial and ethnic disparities in local strategic planning efforts. James Bell, founder… Read More
