Minutes-12-12-2023-Business Meeting

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18 Chair Bedford asked if the curriculum being purchased by the awardee can be shared with other partners or if part of the purchase includes a license. Quintana Stewart said the organization purchasing the training would have to answer that. She said that she gets the impression it is licensed since they must pay for it. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Edward Scott said he works with several organizations but is there to speak for Wounded Healers of North Carolina. He said that they applied for funding. He said that reentry program funding is critical. He said it provides resources for housing, mental health, treatment, healthcare and even more. He said they did not receive funding for their application. He said they need money to be able to help individuals coming out of incarceration. He said that funding for reentry has been proven to reduce the recidivism rate. He asked for increased funding for Wounded Healers of North Carolina. Tom McQuiston said his son was addicted to opioids at 17. He died of a drug overdose at age 18. He contended that the limited amount of funds awarded to the re-entry program were intended for the purchase of curriculum materials. He said that the re-entry program had proposed that they purchase those out their own funds, which means that the program essentially receives zero funding. He said they have worked for years with hardly any support. He said this was an opportunity to fund programs that work. He said someone who comes out of prison is 18 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose. Lucy Battles said she was in support of the three community organizations Grow Your World, Reentry Housing, and Reintegration Support Network. She said she is in long-term recovery from opioid addiction. She said she is an employee of RSN. She said that her daughter receives tutoring support from Grow Your World and her daughter's main request is that she gets to keep going. She said her brother has been incarcerated multiple times and is an addict. She has tried to get him reentry assistance. She said all of the agencies work to help the community end the school to prison pipeline and to help people like her daughter not go down the same path. She asked for more funding. Terence Johnson said he is the executive director of the Re-integration Support Network. He said he had a bad experience with the advisory committee, but Quintana Stewart did a great job. He said that she set clear criteria for what is being reviewed. He said that tonight was the first time that they had received direct feedback on their proposal. He said when the Board looks at the process, they should consider if it aligns with their values. He said the Board should consider the outcomes. He said most of the funding is being used for county supported programs. Doug Peterson, president of Re-entry House Plus, said it is their goal to work with men and women during their transition from incarceration back into society. He said they have a residential home that houses five men in Hillsborough. He said that they also hold classes that offer success while in transition. He said that it is run by two men that were previously incarcerated. He said that it engages participants in a reentry program that helps them develop self-worth and they can stand against opioid abuse and addiction. He said that it also helps patients that are prescribed opioids to educate them on the danger of addiction. He said they have been in operation for four years. He said they are looking for funding for a paid employee. Mr. Peterson's time expired during his comments. Chair Bedford asked that the comments be emailed to the Board. Ran Hamner said he is vice present of the Re-entry House. He said that there are literally hundreds of thousands of people incarcerated across the country and 97% of all those incarcerated today are going to come back to our communities. He said absent a place like Re- entry house, they face a very familiar road back to their old habits, addictions, and new struggles. He said 40% of those that do not receive support will wind up back in prison within one year. He said that 80% of graduates from the Re-entry House never go back into incarceration.