Recovery Month: What We've Learned

• NCJ Number: 308408
• Date Published: October 2022
• Agencies: OJP
• Publication Type: Issue Overview

Annotation

This podcast episode features a conversation between host Karen Friedman and Elizabeth “Betsi” Griffith, the associate deputy director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, as they reflect on Recovery Month and BJA’s work in meeting some of today’s biggest public safety challenges.

Abstract

In this Justice Today episode, host and director of Criminal Justice Innovation, Development, and Engagement at the Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Karen Friedman, reflects on BJA’s Recovery Month efforts with Elizabeth “Betsi” Griffith. Griffith is part of a team that administers the Comprehensive Opioid Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP), which is the largest U.S. Department of Justice-funded program addressing substance abuse in American communities. The podcasters discuss BJA efforts including partnerships with the Department of Veterans Affairs that address veterans’ unique recovery support needs, especially noting efforts in Cincinnati, Ohio, and western Massachusetts. They also talk about the work of the White Earth Band of Chippewas, who have worked to get people referred or diverted into treatment to support their recovery from substance abuse or addiction. The podcasters also discuss another emerging priority of BJA and COSSAP, which is the impact of substance abuse on families and children of those suffering from addiction. Another priority is to prioritize harm reduction and prevent overdoses among individuals who are not ready to enter treatment, as they attempt to produce longer-term solutions. Finally, they discuss the Public Safety partnership Program (PSP) at BJA.