The Rapid Evaluation & Appropriate Placement (REAP) Committee works to create effective and collaborative engagement of law enforcement to address the opiate epidemic. Rather than arresting people with use drugs (PWUD), REAP connects people to the help they need.
Projects & Initiatives
Erie County Jail Rehabilitative Program New Dawn Initiative
This program, led by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, aims to reduce recidivism (re-offenses by people with use disorders) by supporting mental health and substance use screenings and offering pre-release and post-release care management.
Program Goals
- Provide universal screening for mental illness & substance use
- Assess for individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, or criminogenic risk
- Provide comprehensive care management pre-release & post-release (up to 1 year)
- Enhance the provision of reentry & reduce recidivism
Target Population
- Individuals diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
Project Partners
Additional Information
Peaceprints of WNY Project Blue
Project Blue addresses recidivism for incarcerated individuals by providing reentry services. Both pre- and post-release support efforts help individuals, including connection to treatment providers.
Program Goals
- Increase likelihood of employability
- County-level reentry linkages
- Decrease likelihood of recidivism
Services
- Employment workshops
- Intensive Case management
- Mentoring & Retention Services
- Court Advocacy
- Housing Coordination
- Entitlement & Benefits Assistance
- Connection to Treatment Providers & Medical Support
- Educational & Workforce Linkages
Partnerships
- Erie County Sheriff’s Office Jail Management Division
- Erie County Court Judge Egan
- Erie County Department of Probation
- Buffalo City Court
- Buffalo-Prenatal-Perinatal Network
- The Homeless Alliance of WNY
Erie County Department of Probation Opioid Unit
The Erie County Department of Probation’s Opioid Unit supervises probationers who are assessed at high risk for overdose due to opioid use. Service linkages for identified needs are fast tracked for these individuals to reduce the risk of harm and connect probationers to treatment. Probation staff use evidence-based risk assessments, a validated screening tool, a cognitive based intervention program (CBI), harm reduction strategies, and case plan developed for each probationer. Probation Officers inform probationers on treatment options including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs to refer and connect probationers to the treatment help they need.
TCU V drug screenings are conducted on every probationer at intake to identify those with substance use disorders that includes supportive questioning to determine placement within the department. Probationers and their families receive Narcan kits as a safety measure and to reduce their risk of a fatal opioid overdose.
Peer Navigators have been embedded in the department to support probationers and assist Probation Officers with case management using lived experience with opioid use disorders. Having peers present for support can have a profound impact on probationers, giving stronger guidance, compassion, and empathy. Navigators are also integral to the delivery of the CBI, Interactive Journaling.
What are peer navigators?
- Community members with lived experience with opiate/opioid use disorder certified as Recovery Peer Advocates (CRPA) by New York State.
- Individuals who are in active recovery for at least two years
Peer Navigators receive training on:
- Harm reduction
- Ethics
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- How to recommend the best treatment based on a client’s needs
- Motivational interviewing
- Narcan use
- Providing information on community treatment services
Opioid Intervention Court
The Opioid Intervention Court (OIC) is designed to get individuals involved with treatment for OUD directly following an arrest. Unlike traditional drug court models—with weekly appearances before the court—the OIC requires daily check-ins. The OIC model developed in response to three drug court individuals fatally overdosing before their second court appearances in 2016.
Contact
The REAP Committee of the Opiate Epidemic Task Force is led by:
Valentine Zimniewicz, DIO
Emil: VTZimniewicz@bpdny.org