About the Health and Justice Council
Boone County health and justice coordination (HJC) supports the community through a variety of efforts. Department staff regularly participate in city, county, and statewide meetings to stay informed about health and justice issues affecting the community. HJC also leads efforts to improve coordination and information sharing among community partners.
In addition, HJC oversees the Boone County Jail Reentry Navigator Program, which is funded by the Missouri Opioid Addiction Treatment and Recovery Fund. The program assists individuals as they transition back into the community following incarceration.
More information about each of these programs is provided below.
Community Partnerships
Boone County HJC regularly collaborates with other community organizations to further local health and justice efforts.
- Boone County Barriers to Health Care Action Team
- Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness
- Boone County Overdose Response Coalition
- Boone County Support Youth Navigate Change (SYNC)
- City of Columbia's Office of Violence Prevention Advisory Committee
- Juvenile Office Collaborative (contact our office for more information)
- Mid Missouri Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Council
- Mid Missouri Recovery Coalition
- Missouri Association of Counties - Justice and Mental Health Steering Committee
If you are interested in finding out more information about these community efforts, click the links above.
Data and Information Sharing Collaborative
In late 2024, local partners participated in two collaborative workshops focused on strengthening services and preventing deeper involvement in the child welfare and criminal justice systems. The Youth Upstream Mapping Workshop brought together partners to identify gaps in prevention-focused resources for youth and families, while the Adult Sequential Intercept Mapping Workshop examined opportunities for early diversion, coordinated services, and intervention for adults involved in the criminal justice system.
Both workshops resulted in action plans identifying data and information sharing as a key priority. In response, the Data and Information Sharing Collaborative (DISCo) was formed to bring stakeholders together around a shared approach to data and information sharing, supporting coordinated planning and improved outcomes for both youth and adults in the community.
Boone County Jail Reentry Program
Missouri and other government entities have filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies for their roles in fueling the opioid epidemic. These efforts resulted in a series of national settlements. In response, Missouri created the Opioid Addiction Treatment and Recovery Fund to manage incoming settlement dollars. Beginning in December 2022, the state started distributing payments to local governments, including Boone County. The terms of the settlement require that all settlement funds be used for “opioid abatement,” which encompasses prevention, treatment, recovery support, harm-reduction services, and related strategies. Starting in 2026, In alignment with these requirements, the County allocated a portion of its funds to establish a Jail Reentry Navigator program.
In July of 2026, Boone County awarded in2Action, a local organization supporting people transitioning from incarceration, the Jail Reentry Navigator contract. The Boone County Community Services Department oversees the disbursement of the Opioid Abatement funds and assists with the coordination of in2Action's contract.