Leaders from across the US visit local communities to learn how to operate successful programs

Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene Counties, North Carolina (October 20, 2022) - Rural community leaders from all over the United States traveled to Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene Counties this week to learn how to improve justice systems in their own communities. “It’s a real testament to our communities’ partnerships and creative problem-solving abilities that others want to learn from us,” said District 8 Court Judge Elizabeth Heath.

Photos submitted to Neuse News by Tara Kunkel.

Local judicial leaders, in cooperation with the Institute of Intergovernmental Research (IIR) and the Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC), organized this peer exchange site visit. “We find the most innovative rural justice programs in America and invite other rural communities to learn from those sites. Rural problems require rural solutions, and there’s no better way to establish your own program than by learning from a similar community that has successfully implemented these solutions,” said Jonathan Mattiello, the Executive Director of the State Justice Institute. The Family Accountability and Recovery Court has been recognized as one of twenty national RJC Rural Justice Innovation Sites nationwide.

Photos submitted to Neuse News by Tara Kunkel.

The State Justice Institute provided scholarships for leaders from Indiana, Tennessee, Nebraska, and Minnesota to spend two days touring multiple local innovation sites. They learned best practices, exchanged ideas, and gathered knowledge. During the visit, teams learned about Lenoir and Wayne Counties’ comprehensive, multidisciplinary substance use response programs listed below.

The Family Accountability and Recovery Court (FARC)
This family treatment court program serves rural Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene Counties. The FARC program supports parents and families entering the child welfare system because of parental substance use disorders. The court team includes two judges, a case coordinator, a case administrator, a parent attorney, a guardian ad litem, treatment providers, child welfare case workers, transitional housing representatives, vocational rehabilitation representatives, a community college representative, parenting support staff, peer support specialists and, when needed, a domestic violence treatment provider. 

The Women’s House of Hope
This program is a 12-bed transitional housing facility operated by Hope Restorations. Hope Restorations is a transitional employment and training program for adults recovering from addiction or incarceration. In addition to housing, the Women’s House of Hope offers transitional employment, recovery groups, aftercare resources, and computer classes through the local library. Residents of the Women’s House of Hope can work at a local thrift store recently opened by Hope Restoration

The Wayne County Detention Center & Community College Partnership
Visitors learned about jail-based medication-assisted treatment programs and toured the day reporting center. They also learned about the Wayne County Community College partnership with the detention center, which supports individuals earning a high school equivalency diploma while in custody. The community college is also a partner in the FARC and provides education services to treatment court participants. 
Mother Earth Motor Lodge
The rural peer exchange visit also explored how local employers, including the Mother Earth Motor Lodge, work closely with the treatment court to provide employment opportunities for treatment court participants

About the State Justice Institute
The State Justice Institute (SJI) was established by federal law in 1984 to award grants to improve the quality of justice in state courts, and foster innovative, efficient solutions to common issues faced by all courts.  SJI is a non-profit corporation governed by an 11-member Board of Directors appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.  Learn more at sji.gov.

About the Institute for Intergovernmental Research

The Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) has a 42-year history of successfully administering numerous nationally recognized programs that are designed to positively impact on law enforcement and criminal justice professionals. IIR serves as the connecting point for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) training and technical assistance (TTA) efforts and collaborates with Bureau of Justice Assistance leadership and fellow TTA providers to work directly with COSSAP site-based grantees. IIR’s role includes publication production and design; planning, coordination, and delivery of national-level training and working group meetings; COSSAP Resource Center website development and maintenance; provision of subject-matter expertise; coordination of distance learning opportunities and resource dissemination; and coordination of other complementary activities. Learn more at iir.com.

About the Rural Justice Collaborative
The Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC) was established in 2021 to support rural justice practitioners and their partners in behavioral health and public health. The RJC showcases the strengths of rural communities and highlights the cross-sector collaboration that is a hallmark of rural justice systems. The work under the RJC is supported by a cross-sector advisory council composed of rural judges and additional stakeholders in the justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public health systems. In addition to supporting the selection of Rural Justice Innovation Sites, the RJC operates an Online Resource Center housed at www.ruraljusticecollaborative.org and distributes a monthly RJC Digest newsletter. The RJC is co-directed by the National Center for State Courts and Rulo Strategies.