Funding Approved for Department of Corrections Training Collaboration with NAMI NH

CONCORD, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Corrections announces a new collaborative training with the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire (NAMI NH). Funded through a grant from the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs, this initiative will provide training to all Department of Corrections staff. Trainings will include Building a Trauma-Responsive Correctional Setting, Responding to People with Mental Illness, and Crisis Intervention Training with a specific focus on its application in a correctional environment. 

The Department of Corrections sought this funding opportunity after identifying several staff training needs that aligned with the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs’ mission and strategic plan. In Fiscal Year 2021, 55% of individuals were referred for behavioral health services upon booking at a New Hampshire Department of Corrections facility, and 54% were referred for substance use services, underscoring the importance of providing corrections staff with increased educational opportunities in this field. 

“I am excited for the opportunity for the Department of Corrections to partner with NAMI NH for this training initiative,” said Commissioner Helen Hanks. “NAMI NH has a well-established history of delivering excellent training programs that promote evidence-informed practices crucial to preventing adverse outcomes for individuals experiencing mental illness. Having specialized training focused on the justice-involved population will provide invaluable skills and knowledge to our staff and it will also allow them to better assist any person in crisis.”

“NAMI NH is grateful to the leadership at the DOC for their commitment to meeting the unique needs of justice-involved individuals with mental illness,” said NAMI NH Executive Director, Susan Stearns. “We look forward to working together to ensure corrections staff have the training and resources they need to respond to the individuals with whom they work, helping them to access the care and services they need to return to living full lives in their communities.”

The funding for this collaboration will begin in state Fiscal Year 2025. It is expected that the provision of these trainings will lead to improved outcomes and increased awareness among corrections employees, including civilian and certified law enforcement, regarding the complex issues experienced by individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system. This community collaboration supports care coordination within a corrections environment but also educates a broad base of professionals to be more informed in how to assist in recognizing the need for care, referring for better care, and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

About NHDOC:
The New Hampshire Department of Corrections is responsible for the oversight of three correctional facilities, a specialized treatment unit, four transitional housing units, and statewide probation and parole. The department is committed to reducing recidivism by providing safe, secure, and humane supervision and evidence-based rehabilitation to enhance public safety in New Hampshire.

About NAMI NH:
NAMI New Hampshire is a grassroots organization working to improve the lives of all people affected by mental illness and suicide through support, education, and advocacy.  Learn more at NAMINH.org.