Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions

The National Association of Counties, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State Justice Institute (SJI) co-sponsored the Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions initiative. BJA, CDC and SJI supported this effort as part of an ongoing interagency partnership to strengthen collaboration between public safety and public health systems under BJA's Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program. 

Reaching Rural was a 1-year initiative designed for rural justice and public safety practitioners, public health and behavioral health professionals, community groups, and city, county and tribal leaders. Through this effort, practitioners and cross-sector teams convened to share best practices, explore innovative approaches and strengthen collaboration across agencies to address substance use in rural communities.  

• St. Louis County, Minn. received funding through the Opioid Remediation Committee to advance its Reaching Rural proposal, expanding access to medication-assisted treatment and recovery services within the county jail and strengthening peer recovery support services. The initiative also fostered stronger cross-department collaboration among the courts, jails, law enforcement and community partners
• Del Norte County, Calif. created the Yurok Wellness Diversion program for Yurok citizens facing specific criminal charges. A partnership between the County Attorney's Office and the Yurok Tribe, this program provides case management, employment support and behavioral health treatment.