2024 advocacy piece

12 Diverse Faces: All Are Worthy of Full Investment According to a 2023 study conducted by Oregon Health and Sciences University , “Among individuals who are released from prison, opioid overdose is a leading cause of death with a risk more than ten-fold the general population.” The American Psychological Association reported that approximately 50% of those in jails and over 33% of state prison populations have been diagnosed with a mental disorder. It is estimated that “I came from the streets of New York and Camden. I’ve been victimized when I was younger. My father was abusive to my mom. I started smoking heroin at 16. I just wanted somebody to hold and hug me,” Miguel shared. “I went back to Camden and committed a crime there and got locked up.” “I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and ADHD. I worked hard and I’ve been clean for 20 years. There’s hope out there,” Miguel stated. Although Miguel did not receive services until after he was incarcerated, he has made tremendous strides. With treatment and support from Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Miguel not only recovered from addiction and learned how to manage his mental illness, but he also has been working as a cook and sharing his story to inspire individuals who are receiving services at SERV Behavioral Health System. u Appropriate $1.7 million in dedicated funding for the Nurse Navigator program. u Provide $667,000 of additional funding to expand training opportunities at the Governor’s Reentry Training and Employment Center. u Introduce legislation to require a comprehensive study and roadmap for increasing the number of emergency, transitional and permanent housing units for justice-involved individuals. u Introduce legislation to require a statewide audit and resource directory of deflection, diversion and reentry resources. Behavioral Health Care, Training and Employment Support Successful Reentry after Incarceration in jails have a serious mental illness; that number is conservatively estimated to be 20% for the prison population. 15% of males 31% of fe males &