This web page from the Council of State Governments contains suggestions for successfully opening a crisis stabilization unit. The tips include understanding system gaps, harnessing collaboration and leadership buy-in, articulating goals for the center, and considering a phased funding approach. Continue reading
Resource Tag: Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice & Corrections
Building an Organizational Culture That Values Law Enforcement Diversion – Webinar Presentation
This presentation slide deck accompanied a COSSAP webinar on building an organizational culture that values pre-arrest diversion, which can be found at https://iir.adobeconnect.com/p75fqqupxzsw/?html-view=false&proto=true. Continue reading
Building an Organizational Culture That Values Law Enforcement Diversion
This 3 page guide discusses building an organization culture that values law enforcement diversion programs for individuals with substance use disorders. The guide defines 3 key elements for creating a culture within law enforcement agencies that supports and values pre-arrest diversion programs: Continue reading
The Benefits and Implementation Challenges of the First State-wide Comprehensive Medication for Addictions Program in a Unified Jail and Prison Setting
This report provides a summary of a qualitative research study on inmate attitudes toward a medication assisted treatment (MAT) program for substance use disorder in the Rhode Island corrections system. Rhode Island implemented a MAT program in its correctional facilities statewide. Continue reading
Community Opioid Prevention Education (COPE) Trailer
This 3 minute video describe the Community Opioid Prevention and Education (COPE) trailer deployed by the Montgomery County, Maryland police department. The COPE trailer uses a model bedroom and bathroom to educate citizens about the signs of opioid abuse they might see in their friends and loved ones and provides information about accessing treatment and using naloxone to reverse opioid overdose. Continue reading
Situating the Continuum of Overdose Risk in the Social Determinants of Health: A New Conceptual Framework
This article presents a new conceptual framework for understanding the opioid crisis by describing factors that escalate risk for drug use, addiction, and overdose and proposes six policy strategies to address the epidemic’s root causes and deescalate risk. The framework promotes a comprehensive approach that recognizes the social determinants of health and shifts public policy from punishment to a public health approach. Continue reading

Addiction’s Impact on Children and Families: Policy Guides
The opioid and addiction crises have greatly impacted family stability, leading to large increases in child welfare cases and the rate of grandparents or other relatives raising children. In this collection, we feature reports that describe the impact of addiction on families and provide strategies for improving services provided to children and their caregivers. Continue reading
10 Steps Deflection and Pre-Arrest Diversion Sites can Take During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
This resource serves as a guide to operating pre-arrest diversion programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guide provides 10 steps pre-arrest diversion programs can adopt during the pandemic to keep team members and clients healthy and maintain access to needed services, and 10 steps to take after the national emergency has ended to maintain or expand pre-arrest diversion programs. Continue reading
Treatment Courts and COVID-19: What to Consider During a Pandemic
This 10-page document is a guide for operations of treatment courts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resource provides guidance for treatment court staff on the following topics: Continue reading
Ohio Addiction Policy Detailed Scorecard
This detailed policy scorecard accompanies the Health Policy Institute of Ohio’s report evaluating the state of Ohio’s efforts to adopt evidence-based practices to address addiction in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Continue reading