Public Health is Public Safety: GHAI and Dream.org Bring Advocates to the Hill for National Recovery Month 

In honor of National Recovery Month, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator’s Overdose Prevention Initiative joined our partners at Dream.org for a Congressional Hill Day centered on a simple message: public health is public safety. Together, we elevated the voices of community advocates from across the country to call for policies that address the overdose crisis, strengthen reentry supports, and ensure continuity of care for people in the criminal justice

The Overdose Prevention Initiative has partnered with Dream.org in efforts to support federal policies that bridge the gaps between health and justice. These include the Reentry Act and the Due Process Continuity of Care Act, two bipartisan bills that would expand access to care, reduce preventable deaths and give people returning home from incarceration a fairer chance at recovery and stability.

The Policies at Stake 

The Reentry Act (H.R. 2586) would allow Medicaid-eligible individuals to restart their benefits up to 30 days before release, while the Due Process Continuity of Care Act (H.R. 1510 / S. 1720) ensures people can remain eligible for Medicaid before conviction. These reforms are critical overdose prevention measures. Nearly 41% of people entering the criminal justice system meet the criteria for a substance use disorder, yet only 30% of jails and prisons provide buprenorphine and 20% offer methadone, effective treatments for opioid use disorder. Without access to care, the risk is deadly: formerly incarcerated individuals are 40 times more likely to die of an overdose within the first two weeks after release. By restoring and maintaining Medicaid coverage during these critical transition periods, these bills help ensure continuity of care, reduce recidivism and save lives.

To learn more about the Reentry Act and the Due Process Continuity of Care Act, review our detailed fact sheets. 

• Reentry Act 
• Due Process Continuity of Care Act 

Advocates Take Their Stories to the Hill 

With GHAI’s support, Dream.org advocates from Kentucky, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Ohio and Arkansas held more than 15 meetings with Congressional staffers across the House and Senate. These meetings gave lawmakers the opportunity to hear directly from people who have lived experience with incarceration, substance use, and recovery.

We also joined Dream.org at a Congressional briefing hosted in collaboration with the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus, chaired by Representatives Paul Tonko and Madeleine Dean. This event, held in recognition of National Recovery Month, highlighted how public health-centered approaches to public safety can save lives, reduce costs and strengthen communities. The discussion underscored the importance of bipartisan solutions like the Reentry Act and the Due Process Continuity of Care Act in addressing the nation’s overdose and incarceration crises

Moving Forward 

The Hill Day was more than just a series of meetings—it was a powerful demonstration of what happens when advocacy is rooted in lived experience, equity and evidence. Dream.org’s work reminds us that policy reform is not abstract; it is about saving lives, reducing harm, and giving people real opportunities to thrive. 

As GHAI continues its partnership with Dream.org, we remain committed to building a future where care replaces punishment, and where healthier communities mean safer communities. 

About Dream.org

Dream.org leads the Public Health is Public Safety campaign, which is dedicated to bringing people together, dismantling barriers, and fostering a culture of care and community over criminalization. By focusing on evidence-based solutions, they are working to reduce overdose deaths, increase access to care, and strengthen equity in communities disproportionately impacted by incarceration. For more information, visit www.dream.org.