Familiar Faces Initiative
Improving Outcomes through Coordinated Heath & Justice Systems
Sections
Familiar faces—individuals with complex behavioral health needs who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other local crisis services—often do not have the support needed to ensure treatment engagement and successful outcomes. Counties and cities’ complex social services systems can be fragmented, leaving vulnerable individuals to fall through the cracks. The Familiar Faces Initiative empowers communities to share data and integrate care options between health and justice systems so they can intervene earlier, improve outcomes and reduce incarceration and hospitalization rates.
U.S. Senate Committee approves legislation to reauthorize programs for older adults
On July 31, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP) approved the bipartisan Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2024 on a 20-1 vote.
Congress advances Second Chance Act reauthorization
On December 4, the Senate passed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act (S.4477) by unanimous consent, a major milestone for supporting county reentry programs. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act programs for five years.
Health does not have to be partisan: Talking about health in a way that resonates with everyone
The de Beaumont Foundation has identified tangible steps county officials can take to heal divides and talk about community health in a way that resonates with everyone.
NACo Legal Advocacy: City of Seattle et al. v. Kia/Hyundai
The question at hand in City of Seattle et al. v. Kia/Hyundai is whether or not the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard preempts state tort claims brought forth by local governments alleging that Kia and Hyundai’s failure to install “reasonable” anti-theft technology constitutes negligence and public nuisance.
NACo Legal Advocacy: Perttu v. Richards
Perttu v. Richards has implications on the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) and could increase the amount of Section 1983 inmate-initiated cases against county jails that reach federal court, ultimately resulting in counties having to expend resources on frivolous lawsuits.
Congress introduces legislation to restore critical public health funding
On November 14, the Public Health Funding Restoration Act was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. This legislation would address a pressing need to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure through direct and flexible funding to local health entities.