Every month, we’re bringing you the top news in addiction treatment and justice services from publications around the country. In addition, we’ll share what we’re reading as our team creates and updates evidence-based curricula and training for our partners around the world.
Addiction Treatment | Justice Services | What We're Reading
Addiction Treatment
Headline
Disrupting the narrative: Stories of hope and transformation
What
SAMHSA is seeking entries that highlight the power of personal stories in promoting hope and transformation for individuals facing mental health challenges. This contest will culminate in selecting eight storytellers to work with award-winning storyteller Joseph Green to refine their narratives.
Participate in the contest
By sharing stories of resilience and healing, the article aims to create a supportive environment and encourage more open conversations about mental health. Enter by August 4 at 11:59 p.m. EST via their entry form.
Headline
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Treasury announce proposed rules to strengthen Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
What
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury have jointly announced proposed rules to enhance the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The proposed rules aim to strengthen and expand mental health and substance use disorder benefits, ensuring that they are on par with medical and surgical benefits in employer-sponsored health insurance plans, ultimately improving access to mental health and addiction treatment services.
Why this matters
Individuals seeking coverage for mental health and substance use disorder care encounter more obstacles compared to those seeking benefits for medical or surgical care. These new rules will help improve access to care for those suffering from SUDs and work to destigmatize such conditions in the hiring/employment process.
Headline
Learn what's new in The ASAM Criteria 4th Edition
What
The 4th Edition of The ASAM Criteria builds on the past 30 years and provides an updated, streamlined and pragmatic approach to assessment and treatment planning. The Criteria ASAM 4th Edition will be released this fall.
Working Together
Train for Change and The Change Companies worked together to produce a 1-hour webinar, which provided an overview of some of the major changes in the 4th Edition of The ASAM Criteria. Bringing clarity and brevity to the transition between the 3rd and 4th editions is vital to helping practitioners effectively deliver services.
Access the webinar recording and handout
Justice Services
Headline
Building a better mental health court: New Hampshire judicial branch establishes state guidelines
What
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch has introduced state guidelines to establish a more effective and efficient mental health court system. The guidelines aim to provide better support and resources for individuals with mental health issues who are involved in the criminal justice system. By implementing these guidelines, New Hampshire seeks to improve outcomes for mentally ill offenders and reduce recidivism rates while ensuring a fair and just process.
Why this matters
Mental Health Courts (MHCs) have not been developed with national guidance whereas Drug Courts have had national standards for 10 years. These guidelines thus represent an important step in how sentencing and treatment of justice-involved persons are consistently delivered and measured.
Headline
A practitioner's guide to constitutional and legal issues in adult drug courts
What
In this new guide from All Rise, the authors provide practical recommendations in domains where the law remains uncertain or notably intricate. These suggestions can help practitioners ensure legal compliance for running an efficient drug court that aligns with evidence-based practices.
What’s in the guide
The guide assists practitioners in recognizing and effectively managing the primary legal challenges that emerge in adult drug courts.
Headline
From corrections to community: Navigating the new Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity, Part 1 (webinar recording)
What
The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) are collaborating to introduce a webinar that informs correctional leaders and stakeholders about the Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 demonstration opportunity.
Webinar objectives
The key objectives of the webinar are to identify opportunities for covering pre-release services and to support continuity of care for individuals with physical and behavioral health needs during reentry. Additionally, the demonstration aims to highlight potential benefits for corrections agencies and for individuals incarcerated and reentering into the community.
Read more and watch the recording
What We’re Reading
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Sisters Emily Nagasaki, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, explore the causes of burnout, unique challenges faced by women and strategies to prevent, manage and overcome chronic stress.