2022 State of North Carolina RSAT Program

Program Abstract

If awarded, 2022 RSAT funds will be used to continue the existing Re-entry program at Greene Correctional Institution, a 64 bed, long-term Substance Use Disorder treatment program, as well as being used to operate the 140 bed Substance Use Disorder Treatment program at Anson Correctional Institution for Women. The 2022 RSAT funds would also be used to support the new Recovery Road Initiative that extends Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Program (ACDP) services to identified offenders across the state at all custody levels. This initiative will address engagement, treatment access, aftercare, and re-entry needs of offenders with identified primary substance use disorder needs. In addition, this may include establishment of a RSAT Project Director to coordinate MAT, Reentry, and Pre-treatment services. If awarded, RSAT 2022 grant monies will also support existing grant management position(s) already in place.

During fiscal year 2020-21, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction administered a SASSI screen to 9,619 newly admitted adult male offenders, with 78% (7,513) identified as needing substance use disorder treatment. Of those needing treatment services, 36% (3,451) were identified as needing long-term treatment services. Currently, the Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Programs (ACDP) section operates six male long-term treatment programs with an approximate annual service capacity of 868 offenders.

Greene Correctional Institution is identified as part of a re-missioning effort focused on release and reintegration for offenders between 12 and 24 months from release. Offenders meeting a certain criterion will be assigned to these facilities to participate in R-STEP (Reentry-Strategic Transition Engagement Plan). R-STEP offenders will be assigned to jobs, programs, services and activities which will be most beneficial to their successful transition back into the community. The offenders will have access to a Reentry Probation & Parole Officer, as well as numerous community partners who will assist them in a smooth transition back into their home and local community.

The program addresses offender substance use, criminal and addictive thinking patterns, and relapse management strategies, with specific emphasis on pro-social skill development. Along with Hazelden CBI core curriculum of “A New Direction”, other material for utilization may include: SAMHSA’s Anger Management workbook and The Change Companies Getting It Right curriculum.

The addition of tablet technology within the department also allows us the opportunity to incorporate treatment platforms across all service delivery levels. This will be particularly useful in the Recovery Road initiative. 

A significant focus will be on needs of incarcerated veterans. Identified treatment program veterans will be provided the resource, “A Guidebook for Veterans Incarcerated in North Carolina Revised March 2015”. This guidebook, in conjunction with the “Health Care for Re-Entry Veterans (HCRV)” program, provides veterans access to HCRV Specialists skilled in coordinating outreach, assessment, referral, and transition services for community reintegration.

During fiscal year 2020-21, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction administered a SASSI screen to 896 newly admitted adult female offenders, with 86% (768) identified as needing substance use disorder treatment. Of those needing treatment services, 60% (535) were identified as needing long-term treatment services. Currently, the Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Programs (ACDP) section operates two female long-term treatment programs with an approximate annual service capacity of 291 offenders.

Anson Correctional Institution for Women is a close/medium custody facility.  The program offers a full array of behavioral health services which addresses the specific needs of women utilizing a trauma informed approach. The program also addresses offender substance use, criminal and addictive thinking, interpersonal skills, relapse management strategies, trauma, developing healthy relationships and reintegrating back into the community. Along with the Change Companies CBI core curriculum Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), other material for utilization may include: Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women, and Beyond Anger and Violence: A Program for Women, all developed by Stephanie Covington, a pioneer in work with female criminal justice populations.

Anson Correctional Institution for Women has also been identified as part of a re-missioning effort focused on release and reintegration for offenders between 12 and 24 months from release. Offenders meeting a certain criterion will be assigned to these facilities to participate in R-STEP (Reentry-Strategic Transition Engagement Plan). R-STEP offenders will be assigned to jobs, programs, services and activities which will be most beneficial to their successful transition back into the community. The offenders will have access to a Reentry Probation & Parole Officer, as well as numerous community partners who will assist them in a smooth transition back into their home and local community.

Most of the participants will be released directly from the program into the community; therefore, there will be a heavy emphasis on re-entry. This will include collaborating with the local Community College to offer educational services such as the HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) and other career/personal enrichment classes to assist with the development of employable skills. A family outreach component geared towards strengthening the family unit will also serve as an additional layer of support to enhance the offender’s recovery efforts upon release.

During fiscal year 2020-21, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction administered a SASSI screen to 10,933 newly admitted offenders, with 78% (8,567) identified as being in need of substance use disorder treatment and an additional 13% needed substance use intervention. ACDP resources provided one in three offenders the opportunity for placement in a long-term or intermediate treatment program. Without additional resources, the gap between the substance use disorder treated offender and the substance use disorder untreated offender will increase exponentially resulting in offenders returning to our communities without treatment. In the interest of public health and safety, ACDP will continue to strengthen its substance use disorder services offered to the offender population to the extent possible. The new Recovery Road Initiative will be used to help bridge this gap.

These extended outpatient services may include direct aftercare, relapse management, medication assisted treatment (MAT) education and engagement, linkage to mental health, home planning, education, vocational rehabilitation, and other community resource/re-entry related services. The Aftercare and Reentry program activities are designed to provide a seamless transition for offenders pending release back to community living. Aftercare Planning for offenders approaching release is a primary focus of this program. Other activities will include but are not limited to: developing skills in anger management, cognitive behavior interventions, vocational and educational goal development, and building healthy relationships.

In addition, this grant request includes the intention to contract with following professionals:

Program Consultant to assist with program development and staff team building
Behavioral Health Specialists for assistance with offenders with co-occurring disorders.

Part of aftercare coordination efforts will be to establish referral mechanisms with community-based Opioid Treatment Providers that utilize “Medication Assisted Treatment” (MAT) protocols in treatment and long-term aftercare plans.

When fully operational, the existing RSAT supported programs at Greene and Anson Correctional Institutions provide treatment opportunity for approximately 156 male and 280 female offenders annually, respectively. Our proposal also includes social work home planning and aftercare coordination for any eligible ACDP treatment completer exiting a NCDPS reentry transition facility. Grant approval would enable ACDP to reduce any widening of the gap between state-funded treatment need and availability.