Buncombe County is pleased to announce that after a comprehensive and competitive recruitment process, Tiffany Iheanacho has been selected to serve as the county’s first Justice Services Director. She is scheduled to start on July 6, 2020.
“Tiffany’s experience in community engagement, resource management, behavioral health, and justice coordination/programming gives her the right balance of discipline, awareness, and compassion necessary to lead this department. I am looking forward to working with her in this new capacity,” says Assistant Manager DK Wesley.
Modeled after best practices and nationwide trends, the newly formed Justice Services Department will align multiple services with similar missions (Justice Resource Center, Justice Support, Pretrial Services, and the Family Justice Center) and will allow for a more unified approach to a central goal of helping our community with justice-oriented services and resources. “While the court system is a function of the state, I see this new department as a critical step in the evolution of leadership and collaboration for our criminal justice system in our community,” says Iheanacho. “I look forward to the opportunity to have dedicated staff and develop key strategies in alignment with our Buncombe 2025 Strategic Plan.”
Tiffany has served as Justice Resources Coordinator since July of 2017. Notable achievements during that tenure include leading the effort in implementing the 1.75M Safety and Justice Challenge grant from the MacArthur Foundation and the establishment of the Justice Resource Center.
Tiffany has previously worked in both crisis, inpatient, and outpatient settings providing clinical behavioral health services and supervision in Asheville and Greensboro, North Carolina. Tiffany holds a Masters in Public Affairs from Western Carolina University as well as a Masters in Mental Health Rehabilitation Counseling and Bachelors in Criminal Justice and Psychology from North Carolina A&T State University. Her experience as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor & Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist provide a background in direct care that complements her skills in planning, evaluation, and quality assurance. Tiffany is also Board Chair of the Asheville PEAK Academy Charter School.
For information about the Buncombe County Justice Resource Center and other initiatives, visit buncombecounty.org/jrc.