The Center for Behavioral Health and Justice (CBHJ) at the Wayne State University School of Social Work is pleased to announce the promotion of Tamarie Willis to Re-entry Projects Manager. Tamarie has served as a coordinator on the Michigan Re-entry Project (MI-REP) since 2018, providing project coordination and support to Monroe County stakeholders. During her time on the MI-REP project, she proved to be very insightful and solutions-focused, building strong relationships with project partners and community stakeholders.

"I am excited to move into this role as we work on the continued sustainability of our current initiatives, while also seeking to expand the CBHJ's reach into more innovative and needed programming," said Willis.

In her management role, Tamarie will lead all grants and projects falling under the CBHJ's re-entry initiatives. Other CBHJ initiatives include juvenile justice, harm reduction, jail diversion, and the CBHJ's newest initiative, crisis response and stabilization.

"Our team is thrilled to have Tamarie in this role. Fortunately for her, she is expanding her role on a seasoned project with excellent partners, community stakeholders, and team members. Her demonstrated success with team building and collaboration will ensure that the MI-REP project remains successful and will lend to the further growth of the re-entry initiative at the CBHJ," said Liz Tillander, Deputy Direct of the CBHJ.

In addition to her role at the CBHJ, Tamarie is a doctoral student at the Wayne State University School of Social Work where she expects to graduate in 2022. Her research focuses on the intersections of incarceration and child welfare. Her work in this area resulted in a congressional briefing in Washington DC and the drafting of two federal bills aimed at increasing visitation between incarcerated parents and their children. Tamarie will graduate with a double major in criminal justice and statistics.

Tamarie started in her new role on February 8.

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About the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice: The Wayne State University School of Social Work Center for Behavioral Health and envisions communities in which research, data, and best practices are used by multiple stakeholders to enhance the optimal well-being of individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal/legal system. Learn more

About the Michigan Re-entry (MI-REP) Initiative: The Michigan Re-entry Project (MI-REP) was implemented in 2017 with funding from SAMHSA's State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis and expanded with State Opioid Response funding in 2019. MI-REP utilizes the evidence-based MISSION-CJ model to provide support for incarcerated individuals with co-occurring opioid use and mental health issues. Clinical teams in three prisons and two jails provide case management and peer support services for three months prior to release and six months following community re-entry to individuals re-entering five Michigan counties. Learn more