“I Just Needed a Chance”: Addressing the Treatment and Recovery Needs of Formerly Incarcerated People

Presented by: Aaron Watts, Gene Ettison, & Suzanne Mizsur-Porter

It’s no secret that addiction is a stigmatized and criminalized disease. According to the NC Department of Adult Corrections, nearly 8 out of 10 people entering the state prison system in fiscal year 2021-22 had a substance use disorder in need of treatment. However, SUD treatment in the prison system only has the capacity to serve a fraction of those who need it. Regardless of whether someone receives SUD services during incarceration, re-entry and recovery supports are critical to help justice-involved individuals rebuild their lives when returning to their communities. Building those supports through a lens of trauma informed equity can be a game changer. Learn how United Way of Rutherford County’s team of peer support specialists and community health workers is positively impacting recidivism and wellness during this interactive workshop. “I just needed a chance” is a direct quote from one of our program participants. He said having a peer who believed in him changed his life for the better and is one of the key factors in his ability to thrive.

Key learning objectives include:
•        Reducing stigma
•        Equity and disparities
•        Reducing recidivism
•        On-going benefits of Peer Support
•        Addressing social determinants of health
•        Participant engagement
•        Differences and similarities of jail and prison re-entry
•        Agency culture and a welcoming environment

Up to 1.5 hours SS (EBT) approved by NCSAPPB. This training is FREE for members and $20 for nonmembers. 

Register here: https://apnc.memberclicks.net/25july24