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January 17, 2015 Update

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The Research Committee met on 1/15, tasked at reviewing the data from the 11 research visits that have occurred. The committee came to a consensus to create a problem statement that will focus on men and women in jail that need substance abuse treatment and that will recognize that the majority of those women are survivors of physical abuse (sexual, domestic, etc.). Our next set of visits will focus on when and where is best to intervene with substance abuse treatment. Below are some of the key data and trends we’ve found thus far:

  • About 42% of women (1,153) in 2014 were at Region 10 for substance abuse problems
  • About 70% of inmates (3,150) at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail need substance abuse treatment
    • Approximately 315 are female, and 2,835 are male
  • 1 of 5 arrests in Albemarle since 2009 have been related to substance abuse (total= 20,687)
    • 942 arrested per year on average involving substance abuse
      • 740 males arrested per year on average, 202 females arrested per year on average
    • On average 1,104 people are arrested in Charlottesville involving a substance
      • 164 females arrested per year on average
      • 940 males arrested per year on average

We have heard many of the same observations over the course of our research visits:

  1. More often than not, sexual assault/domestic violence and substance abuse go hand in hand (Charlottesville and Albemarle Police Department, Region 10, SARA, Regional Jail)
    • “It is important to explore interventions that promote positive recovery from substance use and sexual assault” (Hunter, B.A., Robinson, E., & Jason, L.A. (2012), SARA)
    • Anecdotally, 90% of women arrested for substance abuse have been sexually assaulted in the past (Charlottesville Police)
    • Anecdotally, 99% of women in jail that are in drug treatment come from a history of trauma and abuse (Region 10, Regional Jail)
  2. Some treatment exists but those who abuse substances often don’t take advantage of treatment (Region 10, Regional Jail, Probation and Parole)
    • About 315 women per year could use substance abuse treatment at the Regional Jail. They offer 8 spots for treatment but is never at capacity (Regional Jail)
  3. There is no medical detox or in-patient substance abuse treatment specifically for women in our community, and even those for men do not cover the need (Region 10, Albemarle Police, Women’s Initiative, Probation and Parole, Regional Jail)
    • Closest in patient programs for women are Culpeper, Roanoke and Richmond (Region 10)
    • Closest medical detox facilities for women are Lynchburg, Richmond and Culpeper (Region 10)

January 10, 2015 Update

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This week our Research Committee met with the Thomas Jefferson Area Crisis Intervention Team and District #9 Probation and Parole. We learned:

  • Approximately 13-15% of probationers and parolees need substance abuse treatment
  • Closest transitional housing for women suffering substance abuse is at least 2 hours away
  • Approximately 1 out of 5 inmates suffer from serious mental illness

We’re meeting with the following next week:

  • Charlottesville Police Department, 01/13/2015, 8:45am prep at TBD
  • Shelter for Help in Emergency, 01/16/2015. 12:45pm prep at St. Mark Lutheran Church

Please contact the IMPACT office if you would like to participate.

The next Research Committee Meeting is 1/15/2015, 6:30pm-8:00pm at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 100 Alderman Road. We will be reviewing key data and the strategy committee will recommend possible problem statements and next steps.

December 5, 2014 Update

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This week IMPACT leaders met with the Albemarle Police Department, Addiction Recovery Systems (ARS) Clinic and Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Jail.

We learned some the startling facts:

  • There have been nearly 3,000 reported domestic violence incidents (not arrests) in the last 5 years in Albemarle County
  • At least 50% of all crimes in Albemarle County involves substance abuse as a contributing factor
  • 90% of women treated at the ARS Clinic have experienced some sort of trauma
  • 70% of all female inmates could use substance abuse treatment at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Jail; there are only 8 spots available at a time and they have trouble filling the minimum of spots because it is voluntary
  • 99.9% of women in the Regional Jail’s therapeutic community program have suffered sexual trauma at some point in their lives

Please take this information and share it with your congregations, friends and family. We cannot allow this gap to continue to widen! IMPACT Research Committee will continue to deliver updates as they unfold!

Initial Focus Determined

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Crime/Drugs Research Update
• The Crime and Drugs research committee met on November 17th, 2014 to begin work on our initiative.
• The committee is currently led and guided by Janie Pudhorodsky, team member from Church of Incarnation and Rev. Elizabeth Emrey of New Beginnings Christian Community
• Our research began by highlighting trends in stories that were shared by congregation members during our listening process this fall. Out of the 250+ people within our congregations who participated, stories of family and neighbors seem to struggle with substance abuse and crimes that come as a result were prevalent. Many of these stories were regarding women and families. Many shared about the struggle to securing local treatment for those they care about.
• The committee decided to have the initial focus be on the scope of how substance abuse affects women and their families in our area.
• The committee has already been able to schedule the following visits:
o Region Ten
o Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail
o Addiction Recovery Systems Clinic
o Albemarle Police Department
o Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA)
o The Women’s Initiative
• We want to prioritize our next meetings with:
o Charlottesville Police Department
o District #9 Probation and Parole
o Shelter of Help in Emergency
o Blue Ridge 1st Step Intensive Outpatient Programs
o Nicole Eramo, University of Virginia Associate Dean of Students

Crime & Drugs Elected as Ministry’s New Focus

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Election of Crime at Drugs as New Focus

Content for this post was taken from the Daily Progress coverage of our 9th Annual Assembly.

Annual Assembly 2014

For years, Loretta Martin said, her sister has battled drug and alcohol abuse without being able to find adequate rehabilitation programs close to her family. She has been to programs in Richmond and Roanoke, but is “incapable of finding help on her own,” Martin said. She has been turned away from a psychiatric ward and can’t find housing.

“If there was some program for women with alcohol and drug problems in the local areas, families could stay connected and then the healing could begin,” Martin said. “I pray that she is okay and that God will continue to watch after her. Am I my sister’s keeper? Yes, I am. And I and my family will fight to find the care that she needs.

Martin’s story led to the Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregating Together, IMPACT, choosing drugs and crime as its next project.

The nonprofit group, comprised of 27 Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Unitarian Universalist congregations across Charlottesville and Albemarle County, met Monday evening to direct its focus on drugs and crime, housing or education.

Along with Martin, three other members told their stories and leaders encouraged voters to think about their own experiences to make a decision.

Mallika Rodriguez, a single mother, spoke about her struggle to find affordable, convenient and high-quality childcare. She said she had a hard time finding childcare that was able to work with her job schedule, which could change weekly.

“Sometimes when I’ve found a child care center that offered this flexible coverage, I found myself disappointed by the quality of the actual programs, the facilities or even the staff,” Rodriguez said.

Statistics provided from Child Care Aware show that, in 2011, Virginians typically paid between $8,300 and $10,650 a year for full-time care for infants and toddlers. In comparison, the 2012 in-state tuition at the University of Virginia was just more than $12,000.

Stephanie and Dominique Eley told their story of homelessness, stemming from the inability for both of them to keep a job expecting their child. They went through several houses, but never had to spend a night on the streets due to help they received from churches. They are now working with Habitat for Humanity to build their own home.

According to Habitat for Humanity, about 4,000 families in Charlottesville spend more than half of their income on housing.

Of the 254 votes cast Monday, crime and drugs received 116, housing received 80 and education received the remaining 58. Members from 24 congregations voted.

The night also featured a progress report on two earlier initiatives: young adult unemployment and youth mental health.

Through working with IMPACT, UVa Health Systems has applied for a grant that would allow it to take 50 unemployed or underemployed young adults, aged 18-25, for skills training, mentoring and education to help them get employment in the healthcare field, said Patricia Cluff, associate vice president for strategic relations and marketing for UVa Health Systems.

After completion of the program, candidates will then be able to apply for entry level positions at UVa Health Systems.

As for youth mental health, both Fluvanna and Greene counties have been able to install telepsychiatry equipment to help children get psychiatric services, said Region Ten Executive Director Robert Johnson.