When I think about who we need in the legislature, it’s someone with a passion for justice. Someone who understands that our collective crises of mass incarceration, addiction and mental health are connected.
We cannot solve these problems without thinking about how they interact, which is exactly what Rep. Herod did with her bill to expand
Special Connections, a program to provide addiction treatment to high-risk pregnant women.
Her bill will help keep families together by:
1) Allowing new moms to take advantage of Special Connections up to one year post-partum when they are at increased risk of overdose,
2) Expanding access to childcare in behavioral treatment facilities to keep moms with their kids, and
3) Protecting women from prosecution if they disclose substance use during their treatment.
This measure adds to the robust package of bills already passed by Rep. Herod including drug possession defelonization, bail reform, and other criminal justice measures.
