On Thursday, December 5, 2024, the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) and Volunteers of America (VOA) Northern New England co-hosted their final Maine Statewide Convening of the year. With 67 community members registered, the event focused on advancing deflection and diversion efforts in Maine.
Dr. Jon Ross, Director of Research and Evaluation for TASC and its Center for Health and Justice, opened the event. In his role, Dr. Ross leads research, consulting, and training initiatives at both national and state levels, advancing evidence-based practices. During his remarks, he highlighted an emerging trend in defining and measuring community benefits in grant proposals. He shared that his office is developing tools to support this effort and encouraged attendees to explore their recent webinar series, including one on innovative parenting in reentry programs.
Next, Danny Hampton, Executive Director of Freedom Life Ministries in rural North Carolina, shared his organization’s groundbreaking work in reentry services. Serving in ministry leadership since 1982, Danny has been with Life Ministries since its inception in 2012. He described their approach to reentry as a form of deflection, focusing on creating essential resources specifically geared toward their clients. One of their significant initiatives includes a $5 million grant to build long-term transitional apartments for individuals reentering the community. Danny emphasized the importance of person-centered, not program-centered, services, citing their prison prerelease program as an example. This program engages individuals with 15 months left in their sentences, holding 4-5 weekly meetings to support their reintegration process.
Gordon H. Smith, Esq., Director of Opioid Response for the State of Maine, followed with an update on Maine’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Appointed by Governor Janet Mills in 2019, Gordon oversees the state’s strategic plan, which includes prescriber education, harm reduction strategies, and the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. He shared updates on the Maine Recovery Council’s 43 funded projects, totaling $14 million, and highlighted promising data showing a decline in both total and fatal overdoses.
The final speaker, Ray Porter, Corrections Administrator for the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office at the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center, discussed the program’s 15-year evolution. Focused on evidence-based practices, the center supports individuals with opioid use disorders and addresses antisocial behaviors and beliefs. Ray shared his passion for fostering a correctional culture centered on community, compassion, and connection. He also announced his upcoming transition to serve as Deputy Warden at the Maine State Prison, reflecting his commitment to advancing solutions within the criminal justice system.
You can view the full recording of the convening HERE and you can sign up using the registration link to attend the next Maine Statewide Convening on March 6, 2025.
