Essence received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a concentration of Criminology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Most of her experience consist of intensive substance abuse treatment, with eleven years of working in residential treatment programs. She is focused on intersectionality of perinatal and maternal substance use and mood disorders, adverse childhood experiences, legal system, reproductive justice, and the development of integrative health care models and services that include a social justice lens. Her primary roles at UNC Horizons includes management of grant funding, leading the Wake County behavioral and physical health team. Essence also leads our substance use legal services that includes oversight of statewide gender-responsive reentry services for women leaving jails and prisons with a substance use disorder and DWI interventions.
Essence Hairston, LCSW, LCAS, CSI
Outpatient Program Manager, UNC Horizons-Wake Director of Community Engagement and Integrated Treatment Services Director of Community Engagement and Integrated Treatment Services Clinical Instructor, UNC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Project Director, Perinatal and Maternal SUD Reentry Services
