Proposal abstract category 3: statewide mailing location: 625 marshall street, little rock, AR 72201 specialty court coordinator: janet hawley

The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) was awarded a $2 million Project Grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program (CFDA 16.043) to enhance veterans treatment courts (VTCs) in the state from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2026. Key deliverables include implementing the Veterans Recovery Support System to connect VTC participants with peer support services, expanding risk/needs assessment tools to include VTC-specific measures, developing and implementing VTC certification standards, and providing statewide and regional VTC training and mentorship opportunities for court professionals. The funding will support use of validated screening tools, needs assessments, and evaluations to monitor VTC operations and align them with evidence-based practices per the National Association of Drug Court Professionals' best practice standards.