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administer and monitor
medicated treatment within
the jail, and provide discharge
planning and treatment referrals
to participants.
Collaborative Effort to DLC will receive $261,467
Combat Opioid Addiction of the grant and match
$259,738 to provide care
coordination, case management,
he Collier County Community and Human Services
and peer recovery support
Division, Collier County Sheriff ’s Office (CCSO), and Sheriff Rambosk and Scott Burgess
coaching, in addition to the cost
Tthe non-profit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral
of medications after release,
Health (DLC), have partnered in a three-year Criminal Justice,
incidentals, and project evaluation. Upon release, program
Mental Health, and Substance Abuse (CJMHSA) Reinvestment
participants will be linked with DLC’s treatment and recovery
grant awarded by the State of Florida Department of Children
support to continue MAT and ongoing supportive recovery
and Families in the amount of $1,200,000. The grant includes a
services.
$1,200,000 match and will fund Medication-Assisted Treatment
DLC will provide case management services to ensure basic
(MAT) in the County Jail.
needs are met, establish the inmates’ follow-up appointments
MAT is the use of Food and Drug Administration-approved
with treatment providers, and ensure continuity of care for three
medications such as methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone
consecutive months following their release from jail. The DLC
to treat opioid use disorders. In combination with counseling,
MAT Peer Recovery Specialist utilizes their lived experience
behavioral therapies and recovery support, MAT is the gold
with addiction to help others achieve and maintain recovery and
standard for treating opioid use disorders and can help sustain
wellness. They provide recovery support, advocacy, mentoring
recovery.
and assistance with coordination of services, which can include

transportation to treatment and follow-up care.
"The National Council for Mental Wellness "Our piece is to be the bridge for when an inmate is released
reports that persons who are incarcerated are so they can continue with the treatment services and return
to being healthy, productive members of society,” Dauphinais
approximately 100 times more likely to die by
added. “Proper treatment of substance addiction reduces drug-
overdose in the first two weeks after their release related crime and referrals of children to the child welfare system.
compared to the general public." Recovery can impact all functions of the community from crime to
health to the economy and industry.”
Individuals returning to the community after incarceration Increasing the use of evidence-based practices for treatment
face a myriad of challenges including: securing stable housing; of addiction and increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the
obtaining employment and a stable source of income; justice system response for persons experiencing serious mental
complying with community supervision requirements; accessing illness and/or substance use disorders is outlined in Collier
transportation; and rebuilding social connections. When these County’s new five-year strategic plan for mental health and
needs go unmet, the likelihood of accessing and remaining on addiction services. The plan serves as a road map for community
MAT in the community diminishes. partners, donors and government leaders as they mobilize
Nancy Dauphinais, DLC Chief Operating Officer, said, responses to address associated current and future challenges.
“Though relapse is a common and expected step on the path to “COVID has had a significant and deadly impact on those
sustained recovery, it can also be life-threatening, raising the risk struggling with addiction and a worsening of the drug overdose
of a fatal overdose. Providing access to MAT is a significant step epidemic in the United States,” said Dauphinais. “We feel very
forward to ensuring life-saving and life-changing treatments are fortunate to have received this grant and are confident it will save
available for individuals that have opioid use disorders.” lives, reduce crime and help alleviate demand on an overburdened
The new Jail MAT Program will provide a comprehensive jail- healthcare system.”
to-community network of resources and treatment, to create more
successful outcomes for individuals with substance use and co-
occurring disorders within the criminal justice system. A dedicated DLC is Collier County’s only comprehensive, non-profit behavioral
MAT team of jail and community-based staff members will assist health provider serving children, adults and families. To
those being released for a safer and more successful transition into ensure everyone in need can access DLC’s life-saving inpatient,
the community after release. residential, outpatient and community-based care, donate at
CCSO will receive $845,280 of the grant and match $929,399 DavidLawrenceCenters.org.
to fund the necessary nursing staff and medications for the delivery
of MAT services to inmates arrested while on MAT, within Disclaimer: Program sponsored by The State of Florida, Department of
the County jail. Program staff will screen for MAT eligibility, Children and Families and Collier County Community and Human
Services Division
86 Life in Naples | December 2021