Tara Kunkel, MSW
Tara Kunkel, MSW, is an award-winning, nationally known expert in the fields of criminal justice, substance use disorders, law enforcement, and public health - and the way they intersect at both the national and community levels.
Currently, Tara is working on three wide-ranging national initiatives. The Rural Justice Collaborative centers on improving justice inequalities in rural communities, by creating a new model centered on rural leaders developing solutions to rural problems, which can be replicated. A second project, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, deals with the effects of extreme stress and “vicarious trauma” and how it directly impacts parole and probation officers. A third project, the Adoption of Virtual Services in Judicially Led Diversion Programs Initiative, is examining how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the court system and their justice and treatment partners as they were forced to operate online.
Tara has also served as a Senior Drug Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and led the implementation of the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program, growing it from a $27 million grant program in 2017 to $187 million in 2019.
As an independent consultant, Kunkel has directed over 25 projects within the criminal justice system for various cities, counties and states, as well as overseas.
Join Us for the upcoming Jan 12th Provider Learning Collaborative: Accessing Strategic Planning, Technical Assistance and Training Opportunities for Rural Health Providers featuring Tara’s expertise in conversation with Dr. Rhonda Bohs.
