CAMDEN — The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance has selected Jessica Perusse, a social worker with the Camden Life Center and Come to the Table Counseling, to be part of a select group of fellows in a new rural leadership program.

Called “Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions,” program fellows will learn how to adopt bold solutions to the persistent challenge of substance use in rural communities. They’ll work closely with innovators who have established successful programs in other rural communities. The participants were selected through a competitive process.

“The Camden Life Center is excited to be selected for this fellowship and the opportunity to learn from others across the nation who are also working to build bold and innovating programs that address the needs of rural communities,” Perusse said.

The year-long program, which kicked off in December, will have a strong focus on creating engagement across rural communities and sectors. Over the course of the next year, participants will benefit from virtual and in-person learning opportunities which include coaching, skill-building workshops, and local and regional asset mapping.

The program will demonstrate how diverse systems with different missions can engage with one another to serve justice-involved individuals more effectively with substance use or co-occurring disorders.