Approved Minutes of August 28, 2024

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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 28,2024 • Ms. Fenhagen clarified the difference between deflection and diversion, as deflection is keeping an individual from entering the criminal legal system, for example by sending them to a rehabilitation program instead of giving a charge or citation, while diversion is post-arrest and keeps an individual out of prosecution and incarceration, though a citation or charge may still appear on their record. Deflection is preferable, but both are important equity tools. • The Lantern Project and CCDR help to fill an equity niche, as programs focused on diverting young (typically under eighteen) first-time offenders are the easiest to secure funding and support for but leave out crucial populations such as most college students and individuals with behavioral health needs. • The law enforcement chiefs in Orange County are supportive of CJRD's programs, though the department does monitor the referrals to help watch out for potential bias. • The Lantern Project consists of two staff members, a diversion coordinator and a reentry navigator, both of whom have lived experience in addition to addiction training and licensure and provide peer support. Lantern is trauma-informed, focused on educating participants on harm reduction principles, and aims to meet people where they are. • Lantern served 226 people in the past year. The bulk of people served were white (48%) or Black (44%), while the Latinx population is underrepresented. In response to Dr. Royce's question about the demographic makeup of individuals who are in Lantern, Ms. Fenhagen explained that the criminal legal system tends to skew more Black and brown than either the county population or their current service population, but they are working to ensure equitable access. • Ms. Fenhagen shared that there have been no fatal overdoses among participants in Lantern over the past year, largely due to Naloxone distribution efforts. • Though Ms. Fenhagen did not have time to provide a detailed overview of the CCRD program, she shared that there are currently 67 people being served by the CCRD Team. She added that her slides are available to the Board of Health, and she would love to come back and present again in the future. In response to Mr. Bagby's question, she shared that she would be giving an update on CCRD in October, and she'd be happy for Mr. Bagby to attend this presentation. B. Formerly Incarcerated Transitions (FIT) Program Update Tommy Green, Formerly Incarcerated Transitions (FIT) Program Manager and lead Community Health Worker (CHW)for FIT Orange County, and Dr. Evan Ashkin, NC FIT Program Director and Founder, presented an update on the Orange County FIT Program. Some highlights of the presentation are below: • The FIT Program provides free healthcare to formerly incarcerated individuals with a pre-existing chronic condition and helps to cover copays for healthcare and prescriptions. FIT programs are active in eight counties across North Carolina. • FIT works to create a comprehensive reentry plan for individuals exiting incarceration, including access to housing, family reunification, employment, and healthcare services. Mr. Green shared that FIT has a partnership with the Lantern Project, who referred sixteen of their twenty-six new cases over the past year. • Currently, the Orange County FIT program serves 122 individuals, 24% female and 75% male. Clients are 42% Black or African American, 37% white, and 27% another race, while about 50% of individuals incarcerated in the NC prison system are Black. • Dr. Ashkin shared that the typical caseload for a FIT CHW is around 50-60 cases at a time, consisting of 20-30 new and 20-30 established cases. Currently, Mr. Green has a caseload of around 80 people in part due to a staff vacancy in the program. S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2024 Agenda and Abstracts/ August Page 5