Umoja Health, Wellness and Justice Collective

Umoja Peer Supports form part of the Buncombe County Community Paramedic Team. They help in two arenas: with the Post-Overdose-Response-Team (PORT) and with Medicated-Assisted-Treatment (MAT) team. The MAT team is able to start treatment on location. Then Peer Support workers follow up with patients in 24 hours to develop trust, provide support, and help coordinate appointments and transportation for up to five days. The peer will continue to make contact with the patient until there is a warm hand-off to MAHEC, where the patient will receive free access to suboxone and mental health resources for one year. The peers are an
integral part of the program, creating authentic pathways for members of less visible populations to access free life saving care through trusted, long standing relationships in the community. The peers bring diversity and life experience into the MAT pilot in this unprecedented interdisciplinary effort between public safety and the community.

The H.O.P.E. Model is an educational and supportive experience that intentionally builds awareness, facilitates access, and sustains accountability for those healing from the effects of trauma, oppression, and adversity. H.O.P.E. stands for Healing our Past/Personal/Privileged Experiences. It is a resiliency focused, trauma responsive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training. The curriculum is tailored to meet the specific needs of the group/organization so that through connection, learning about culture, and creating community we open to the possibility of gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of DEI in our workplaces. The power of community and a collective healing process can solicit a deeper commitment to social change practices that promote equity and justice within our organizations. The H.O.P.E. experience is both self-reflective and collective, grounded in rich local history, storytelling, and creative approaches to learning and growth.

Umoja Health, Wellness and Justice Collective is working within local schools to provide support to students. The primary program is for middle schools at Erwin Middle School. Umoja offers a 30 minute Resiliency Circle before the school day begins Monday through Thursday. This began with referrals from the administration for youth with behavioral concerns, but has since expanded to any student who wants to meet in a safe space to prepare for the school day ahead through unpacking, social emotional learning and exercises. Every Friday there is a HOPE 4 the Future Pod that introduces students to the HOPE (Healing Our Past/Personal Experiences) curriculum and aims to divert students from involvement in the criminal justice system. Umoja is also called upon by the administration to help deescalate situations or students that could result in criminal charges, detainment of youth, or law enforcement involvement.