Description
December 10, 2025 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM A Comprehensive Approach to Incarcerated Individuals with Substance Use Disorder: Systems Change at Franklin County Jail
Description:
The Franklin County Jail has been awarded a three-year Bureau of Justice Assistance grant under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP). The jail is implementing a multi-faceted strategy to enhance reentry services and improve the lives of those reentering the community. The COSSUP grant allowed the jail to hire a reentry coordinator to work with individuals prior to release to better understand and act on their individual social drivers of health. The reentry coordinator then works with individuals to develop a comprehensive reentry plan that addresses these barriers. Franklin County Jail is also working to implement extended-release buprenorphine (XRB), a once-a-month injectable medication that treats opioid use disorder (OUD). The jail hopes to achieve the same success as Somerset County Jail which implemented XRB more than 3 years ago. Franklin is also working to expand and extend partnerships with community treatment, harm reduction, occupational and other support service providers. While reduced recidivism is an important goal, successful reentry programs focus on a holistic approach, and address all aspects of an individual’s life, including housing, employment, health, education, and family support.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the unique challenges addressing substance use and mental health disorders in rural county jails
- Understand a rural approach to data tracking in a jail facility.
- Identify three community strategies that support successful reentry.
- Describe how to implement a jail based extended-release buprenorphine (XRB) program for individuals with OUD in a rural community.
Presenter: Alane O’Connor, DNP
Presenter: LeeAnna Lavoie, MPH
LeeAnna Lavoie, MPH, has dedicated her career to public health, including leading community health coalitions for two rural hospitals in Maine. She is currently the director of MaineHealth’s Healthy Community Coalition (HCC) based in Franklin County, serving western Maine. HCC has a 40-year history and has published outcomes in journals such as JAMA, under the guidance of a multi-sector community board. LeeAnna manages nearly $5 million in annual grant funding and $2 million in operational funding, as well as a 25-member team at HCC. This includes a comprehensive substance use team focusing on primary prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery efforts throughout Franklin County. LeeAnna is an appointed member of the Franklin County Correction’s Board of Visitors, collaborating with a team to enhance and implement restorative approaches in the Jail for inmates with substance use disorders. Additionally, she serves on the Franklin County Opioid Settlement Committee, where she reviews applications and provides recommendations to the county commissioners.
Presenter: Sergeant Ryan Close
Sergeant Ryan Close is a highly experienced law enforcement professional at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, with 17 years of dedicated service. He began his career in 2008 with the City of Westbrook, where he served until 2021. During his tenure, he worked in the Criminal Investigation Division and later as a Special Deputy United States Marshal with the Maine Violent Offender Task Force. Sgt Close achieved expert recognition from the Maine Unified Court in Cellular Analytics and Computer Forensics. In 2021, he relocated to the Franklin County area with his family and was appointed as a Sergeant with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. He serves as the team leader of the Franklin County Public Safety Peer Support Team, which includes fire, EMS, law enforcement, corrections, and communication professionals who offer peer support to first responders in the county. Sgt Close is recognized as a key resource for peer support and crisis management for first responders across the state, assisting individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth. Additionally, Sergeant Close is an ambassador with the National Law Enforcement Wellness Center and co-authored Maine’s only Law Enforcement Suicide Report.
Continuing Medical Education:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education and CCSME. The Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education is accredited by the Maine Medical Association Committee on Continuing Medical Education and Accreditation to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education designates this regularly scheduled series for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
*Nurses and Nurse Practitioners will be awarded a certificate of participation with a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™.
This course has been approved by Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine (CCSME), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 1 educational credits. NAADAC Provider #324712, CCSME is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
Contact Hours 1 contact hours for social workers, licensed clinical professional counselors, and behavioral health professionals.
1 Category 1 Contact hours for psychologists. CCSME is a pre-approved sponsor and provider of Professional Education Activities for Psychologists.
1 contract hours CHES. CCSME is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission of Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
