Building Civil Legal Aid into Overdose Prevention Strategies

Originally presented live at the 2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit (Louisville, KY). Presenters open with an overview of civil legal aid and the Project Renew model, explaining how legal services and wraparound support address the intersection of civil legal needs and recovery for individuals in reentry. The session examines methods for incorporating the Project Renew model into community-based settings—including partnerships with recovery community organizations and substance use treatment providers—that advance reentry and long-term recovery. Panelists walk through common barriers individuals face when seeking reentry and recovery services and demonstrate how Project Renew's screening tools identify and prioritize these needs.

 

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of civil legal aid and the Project Renew model that provides legal aid and wraparound support to individuals in reentry and recovery.

2. Analyze the different methods that can be used to incorporate the Project Renew model into community-based settings that promote reentry and recovery.

3. Examine common barriers to success faced by individuals seeking reentry and recovery services, and learn how to implement Project Renew's screening tools to leverage civil legal aid as a vital source of support.

 

Presented by: Justin Apperson, JD – Equal Justice Works Fellow, Opioid Crisis Response Program, AppalReD Legal Aid; Casey Michalovic, JD – Project Renew Project Director and Attorney, Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalReD Legal Aid).

Learning Objectives

1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of civil legal aid and the Project Renew model that provides legal aid and wraparound support to individuals in reentry and recovery.

2. Analyze the different methods that can be used to incorporate the Project Renew model into community-based settings that promote reentry and recovery.

3. Examine common barriers to success faced by individuals seeking reentry and recovery services, and learn how to implement Project Renew's screening tools to leverage civil legal aid as a vital source of support.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This knowledge-based activity will award 1.00 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number: JA0000312-0000-26-082-H08-P

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 0526KBML-H7.5-UKCEOPS2026

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 1.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, UK HealthCare CECentral is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. UK HealthCare CECentral maintains responsibility for this course.

    Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clinical continuing education credit(s).

  • 1.00 Certified Community Health Work
    This training is approved by the Office of Community Health Workers Program to provide 1.00 continuing education unit(s) for Certified Community Health Workers.
  • 1.00 EMS (Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services)
    The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) certifies that this educational activity is designated for 1.00 KBEMS contact hour(s). Approval Number: KBEMS-2026-UKHCCE-0002
Course opens: 
07/26/2026
Course expires: 
06/15/2029
Part of: 
2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit: Enduring Sessions
Rating: 
0

Brief Session Outline:

Presenters will open with an overview of civil legal aid and the Project Renew model, explaining how legal services and wraparound support address the intersection of civil legal needs and recovery for individuals in reentry. The session will examine methods for incorporating the Project Renew model into community-based settings—including partnerships with recovery community organizations and substance use treatment providers—that advance reentry and long-term recovery. Panelists will walk through common barriers individuals face when seeking reentry and recovery services and demonstrate how Project Renew's screening tools identify and prioritize these needs. The session will conclude with a call to action for providers to leverage civil legal aid as a vital, underutilized resource within overdose prevention and recovery support strategies.

Justin Apperson, JD – Equal Justice Works Fellow, Opioid Crisis Response Program, AppalReD Legal Aid

Casey Michalovic, JD – Project Renew Project Director and Attorney, Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalReD Legal Aid)

CHES Continuing Education Category I hours have been applied for and are pending approval by WKU’s CHES Continuing Education Program Review Committee.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This knowledge-based activity will award 1.00 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number: JA0000312-0000-26-082-H08-P

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 0526KBML-H7.5-UKCEOPS2026

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Enduring activity is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 1.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, UK HealthCare CECentral is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. UK HealthCare CECentral maintains responsibility for this course.

    Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clinical continuing education credit(s).

  • 1.00 Certified Community Health Work
    This training is approved by the Office of Community Health Workers Program to provide 1.00 continuing education unit(s) for Certified Community Health Workers.
  • 1.00 EMS (Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services)
    The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) certifies that this educational activity is designated for 1.00 KBEMS contact hour(s). Approval Number: KBEMS-2026-UKHCCE-0002
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