$3.2 million grant awarded to help NJ parolees kick drug addiction
TRENTON - Supervised offenders struggling with substance use are slated to receive additional help in their battle against addiction through a $3.2 million grant.
The grant is earmarked for peer recovery support services to combat opioid, stimulant and other substance abuse issues.
The New Jersey State Parole Board, in partnership with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (RUBHC), has received a $3,278,813 grant that will provide support for peer recovery support services offered under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program for offenders.
The program will include a team of providers specifically dedicated to the needs of supervised offenders receiving Intensive Recovery Treatment Support (IRTS) services. Offenders will begin receiving services about six months prior to their prison release and services will continue 12 months post-release. Individualized case plans and participating parole officers will also address the specific needs of each client.
“We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (USDOJ/BIA) for providing the New Jersey State Parole Board and its partner, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, with this critical funding,” said Samuel J. Plumeri Jr., state parole board chairman. “The aim of this program is to reduce the impact of dangerous substances on individuals and communities, make a meaningful reduction in overdose fatalities, and mitigate the impacts to crime victims.”
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Funding will expand the current Rutgers Behavioral Health Intensive Recovery Treatment Support program, which includes medication-assisted treatment support. The IRTS program pairs peer health navigators with offenders battling substance use.
About 110 adult offenders released to parole supervision are expected to be served by the program. Participation is voluntary for services up to 18 months during the three-year grant term.
In addition, the the IRTS team will include a mental health clinician to provide mental health services for offenders with both mental health and substance use issues.
Additional information about the USDOJ/BIA grant, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/15pbja-21-gg-04573-coap.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: $3.2 million grant awarded to help NJ parolees kick drug addiction
