A.C.E.™ Stigma Slaying Series to Redefine Reentry

Available through Sep 30, 2025 Open Medicine

Description

Advocate. Collaborate. Educate. The A.C.E.™ Stigma Slaying Series offers several webinars intended to reduce barriers to successful reentry from incarceration for historically marginalized populations. The series will identify, describe, and provide implementation strategies to empower existing community leaders, advocates, agencies, and individuals in recovery to maximize the supports offered to individuals reentering society after a period of incarceration. A.C.E.™ will leverage lived experience to offer strategies for creating accessible pathways for successful reentry.

The A.C.E.™ Stigma Slaying Series is funded by the NC Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services through a State Opioid Response Grant. Operation Gateway's Executive Director, Chief Change Agent Philip "Coop" Cooper, CCHW, CPSS, will host discussions with community leaders throughout North Carolina that are advocating, collaborating, and educating to slay stigma and realize the role that culture plays in providing reentry services. Coop has leveraged his lived experience through engagement in community recovery efforts since 2009 and started specializing in reentry for formerly incarcerated citizens in 2016.

*There are no credits offered for this course, however, a certificate of completion will be provided for each module completed.

MAHEC engages in evaluation activities to better understand the impact of our programs. By registering for this course, you agree that we may use your personal information in evaluative research regarding this program. Any reports published will be de-identified and reported in aggregate format.

Approximate time to complete per module: 45 minutes with modules varying in length between 30 minutes and 90 minutes (See each module's welcome slide for specific module lengths)
Learner content includes: Video and corresponding course handouts
Expiration: Participants have until course expiration to complete these modules and access course materials.

In collaboration with

With support from

By registering for this program, you are granting permission for your contact information to be shared with the NC DHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services and Operation Gateway, collaborators and/or supporters of this continuing education activity.

Target Audience

These training modules are designed for peer support specialists, community health workers, harm reduction agency staff, and others interested in assisting individuals navigating the barriers faced when reentering society.

Objectives

By the end of this training, the participant should be able to:

Recognize the importance of lived experienced in leveraging community supports
Identify and implement strategies for maximizing the Community Health Workers (CHW) role in navigating behavioral health resources
Describe and practice effective forensic peer support
Recognize and utilize strategies for leveraging the faith community to slay stigma associated with behavioral health and reentry
Describe the impact of mass incarceration on people of color and identify strategies for culturally sensitive recovery supports
Identify workforce development and support employment resources and utilize strategies to maximize impact of these resources
Recognize and apply opportunities to build community coalitions focused on limiting recidivism by ensuring that social determinants of health are addressed for reentering citizens
Provide a tool-kit for individuals and agencies that support reentering citizens

Faculty

Evan A. Ashkin, MD
Hillary L. Bolter, MSW, LCSW, LCAS
William Castro, CCHW,NC-CPSS,CHW-VPP
Brittany A. Clement, MSW, LCSW-A
Philip A. Cooper, CHW, NC-CPSS
Jeanna Cullinan, MPA
Chablis Dandridge, NC-CPSS
Honey Y. Estrada, MPH, CHW
Tommy Green, CCHW, CPSS
JéWana Grier-McEachin, BA
Amanda Martin, NC-CPSS
Jasmine Milton, NC-CPSS
Tess Monty, CCHW, NC-CPSS
Dillon Moss, NC-CPSS
Craig A. Waleed, Ed.D
Keri Walker, MS

Sessions

Module 1: Leveraging My Lived Experience

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 2: Forensic Peer Supports

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 3: The Community Health Worker (CHW) Apprenticeship

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 4: Overview of the NC Healthy Opportunities Pilot

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 5: Welcome Home! The Bridge to Success

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 6: Motivational Interviewing

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 7: The Community Health Worker's (CHW) Role in Behavioral Health

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 8: Unlock the Box

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 9: NC Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Module 10: Hyped about EIPD

9/30 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Credits

You may need to click the plus signs below to see the credits offered for each session.

Module 1: Leveraging My Lived Experience