Jefferson county is the largest and most populous county in alabama

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $833,000 Project Grant under the Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative (CFDA 16.812) to the County of Jefferson, Alabama. The 3-year grant, effective October 1, 2024, will support the following key activities:

1. Improve the continuity of care and treatment services for individuals in the county's two jails and the community with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health disorders.
2. Increase treatment capacity for SUDs and co-occurring mental health disorders.
3. Build stronger social support networks and increase access to case management for those with complex co-occurring needs.

The county will partner with the University of Alabama to evaluate the project. This grant aims to address service gaps and enhance reentry support for the county's justice-involved population, 41% of whom were assessed to need SUD treatment in 2023 but only 29% received it.

Its two jails (birmingham and bessemer) house an average daily population of 1,000 and approximately 43,000 people are admitted to the facilities annually. In 2023, 41 percent of new admissions were assessed to need treatment for substance use disorders (suds), yet only 29 percent received this treatment. The applicant seeks to build upon their progress under the comprehensive opioid, stimulant and substance use program by addressing three service gaps related to treatment for suds and CO-occurring mental health disorders: improve the continuity of care and treatment services for those with CO-occurring suds and mental health disorders in the two jails and the community; increase treatment capacity for suds and CO-occurring mental health disorders; and build stronger social support networks and increase access to case management for those with complex CO-occurring needs. The applicant proposes to partner with the university of alabama to evaluate their project.