Jefferson County OUD/Co-occurring Reentry

Jefferson County is the largest and most populous county in Alabama. Its two jails (Birmingham and Bessemer) house an average daily population of 1,000 and approximately 43,000 people are admitted to the facilities annually. In 2023, 41 percent of new admissions were assessed to need treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), yet only 29 percent received this treatment. The applicant seeks to build upon their progress under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Use Program by addressing three service gaps related to treatment for SUDs and co-occurring mental health disorders: improve the continuity of care and treatment services for those with co-occurring SUDs and mental health disorders in the two jails and the community; increase treatment capacity for SUDs and co-occurring mental health disorders; and build stronger social support networks and increase access to case management for those with complex co-occurring needs. The applicant proposes to partner with the University of Alabama to evaluate their project.