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Justice Clearinghouse: The Martinsburg Initiative: A Community Breaking the Cycle of Substance Abuse and Building Strong Families

December 3 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Free

The Martinsburg Initiative (TMI) is a nationally recognized, evidence-based prevention and early intervention model designed to break the cycle of substance use, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Founded in Martinsburg, West Virginia, TMI brings together law enforcement, schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, and higher education with one shared mission: to strengthen families, prevent substance use, and empower the community.

What began as a partnership between the Martinsburg Police Department and Berkeley County Schools has grown into a comprehensive, multi-agency network guided by the science of ACEs and trauma-informed care. TMI connects prevention, intervention, and mitigation through a three-tiered model:

  • Tier 1 – Awareness and Prevention: Expanding education on ACEs, trauma, and substance use prevention in schools and communities.

  • Tier 2 – Identification and Intervention: Identifying individuals at elevated risk and connecting them with mentoring, case management, and behavioral health support.

  • Tier 3 – Treatment and Mitigation: Coordinating care for individuals and families already impacted by substance misuse, ensuring access to recovery resources and family-strengthening services.

TMI’s partnership with law enforcement includes embedding social workers within police departments to help officers respond more effectively to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, domestic violence, or housing instability.

In this webinar, we’ll explore how this trauma-informed model evolved from a local collaboration into a national example of how communities can come together across systems and sectors to prevent substance use, build resilience, and create safer, stronger families.

From the officer on patrol to animal welfare and control professionals, social services caseworkers, jail and corrections staff, and probation officers, even the academics who research and study this sector, the Justice Clearinghouse helps justice and public safety professionals keep up with the trends, best practices, and success stories shaping their work through articles, webinars, and training.

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