|
|
 |
 |
Court News Ohio
Eight-State Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative Receives $1 Million Federal Grant
September 29, 2017
A first-of-its-kind regional judicial effort by states to combat the
opioid epidemic is receiving a $1 million federal grant from the U.S.
Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative (RJOI) was formed a year ago to
explore ways that state leaders within a region devastated by opioid
abuse could work more effectively and collaboratively across
disciplines to confront this problem. The goal of the initiative
-- now recognized a model -- seeks to speed up responses by state
courts, children’s services and criminal justice and treatment systems
within Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina,
Tennessee and West Virginia.
“Our regional effort serves as a bridge connecting key leaders and
staff from law enforcement, to courts, to treatment providers, to
children services and other aid organizations,” Ohio Chief Justice
Maureen O’Connor said today. “This grant will go a long way toward
helping close the information, enforcement, services and treatment gaps
that have allowed this epidemic to fester and grow.”
The $1 million funding was awarded to the Ohio Supreme Court on behalf
of the RJOI to improve coordination and seek “data-driven responses to
prescription drug misuse.” The RJOI has relied on the National
Center for State Courts (NCSC) to coordinate the initiative, and will
continue to do so through this grant.
The RJOI was set up for states to work with each other on a variety of fronts:
Provide education, training and technical assistance to prescribers and
stakeholders in the criminal justice, treatment, child welfare and
related fields regarding the opioid epidemic and the tools to combat it.
Share aggregate data from within and across the multi-state region such
as those involving criminal justice, child welfare, public health and
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) -- to study trends and
target areas for intervention.
Create pilot programs for evidence-based interventions, and programs in
targeted multi-state sites, such as in cities and counties along state
borders.
“This grant will be key in helping this region fight the worst drug
abuse problem in our nation’s history,” said Chief Justice O’Connor,
who convened the RJOI in 2016 in Cincinnati. “The opioid crisis affects
not only addicts but their families and children. The fallout is
widespread, and state courts are in a unique position to work with
others in fighting back.”
|
|
|
|
