COSSAP, in its ongoing effort to provide learning opportunities to communities addressing substance abuse, is pleased to announce the Evidence-based Treatment in Custody, Jail-based Mentor Site Initiative.

This new initiative offers jails interested in providing or enhancing their medication-assisted treatment services a unique opportunity to observe and learn from innovative programs that have worked successfully to meet the treatment needs of individuals with substance use disorders.  Six programs were selected to serve as mentor sites; each represents an example of the variety of programs found across the nation.

Initially, the Mentor Site Initiative and the mentor sites will operate virtually while pandemic-related travel restrictions are in place.  Once travel restrictions are lifted, mentees will visit mentor programs in person.

The online mentee application form, additional information about the initiative, and details about the mentor sites are available at https://www.cossapresources.org/Learning/PeerToPeer/JailBased.

Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP), in its role as a COSSAP training and technical assistance (TTA) provider, is coordinating the initiative.  AHP has managed multiple peer-to-peer learning opportunities, with mentees rating its offerings as some of the best training they have received.

The Evidence-based Treatment in Custody, Jail-based Mentor Site Initiative joins a comprehensive suite of COSSAP peer-to-peer learning opportunities offered by COSSAP TTA providers: 

• The Peer Recovery Support Services Mentoring Initiative (coordinated by Altarum)
• The Law Enforcement/First Responder Diversion and Referral Mentoring Initiative  (coordinated by TASC’s Center for Health and Justice [CHJ])
• The Overdose Fatality Review Peer Mentor Initiative (coordinated by the Institute for Intergovernmental Research [IIR])

Details of the COSSAP peer-to-peer learning opportunities are available on the COSSAP Resource Center, https://www.cossapresources.org/Learning/PeerToPeer.

BJA’s COSSAP is a collaborative effort that includes the training and technical assistance teams from Advocates for Human Potential, Inc.; the Altarum Institute; the Center for Health and Justice at Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities; the Institute for Intergovernmental Research; the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College; the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Training and Technical Assistance Center; and RTI International.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-AR-BX-K061 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.