About Project NORTH

Project NORTH is a free program that connects court users impacted by behavioral health with court-based navigation services.

Project NORTH is a Trial Court initiative that partners with licensed treatment providers to provide access to court-based navigation services. Navigators are located in the Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Haverhill, Lowell, Lynn, Pittsfield, Springfield, and Worcester courthouses.

Since 2022, Project NORTH Navigators have helped 2,973 court users access community-based services and conducted 16,797 brief navigation contacts with individuals, staff, and partners. Of the clients who consent to follow-up, 86% report successful connections to care in the community.

What is Court-based navigation?

Navigators work for licensed treatment providers and can assist with:

• Understanding and accessing evaluation, treatment, recovery, family support, and overdose prevention resources
• MassHealth enrollment and adjustment
• Developing personal goals related to substance use and mental health treatment, recovery, and support
• Accessing sober housing and other housing supports
• Care coordination and case management 

Locations

There are 9 Project NORTH courthouses:

• Boston
• Brockton
• Chelsea
• Haverhill
• Lowell
• Lynn
• Pittsfield
• Springfield
• Worcester

Contact a Recovery Support Navigator 

Eligibility and referrals

Project NORTH is available to court users involved with any court department, including District Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Court, Probate and Family Court, and Superior Court. Individuals do not need to have an open case or be on probation to access navigation services.

Participation in Project NORTH is voluntary. Referrals may come from Trial Court staff, Probation, Defense Counsel, the District Attorney’s office, behavioral health treatment providers, or community partners. Individuals may also self-refer. Walk-in appointments are accepted at all Project NORTH courthouses. 

Program partners

Project NORTH partners with the UMass Chan Medical School Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts on implementation, data collection, and evaluation efforts. 

This project is supported by Grant No. 2020-AR-BX-0038 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.