PIEDMONT regional community services (PIEDMONT) in south-central virginia is applying for BJA ATC funding to enhance its adult drug court with support of henry county

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant to the Piedmont Regional Community Services Board (doing business as Piedmont Community Services), a U.S. local government entity, under the Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program (CFDA 16.585). The grant will be used to enhance Piedmont's existing adult drug court program in South-Central Virginia, allowing it to serve an additional 60 participants during the 4-year project period for a total of 120 participants. The grant funding will support evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, recovery support services, drug testing, case management, and judicial supervision for the target population of adult male and female substance-addicted and substance-dependent offenders with pending felony drug or drug-related charges. The project aims to reduce participant substance use, recidivism, and improve stable housing and employment outcomes.

PIEDMONT is one of 40 virginia community services boards that are joint partnerships between local and state governments. Funding will expand its capacity to serve an additional 60 participants during the project, which will bring the total served to 120 participants during the 4-year period. The target population includes adult male and female substance-addicted and substance-dependent offenders with pending felony drug or drug-related charges, including probation violations, in the 21ST circuit court. ATC WIL target those who have historically experienced sustained discrimination or reduced social opportunities. The target population for ADC will have access to mat through piedmonts office-based opioid therapy (OBOT) program as well as community providers. The overarching project goals include ATC participant reduction in substance use, reduced recidivism, and stable housing and employment. The minimum length of program participation is expected to be 14 months. The maximum length of program participation is expected to be 24 months. The substance use disorder treatment component of the ATC is based on a five phase model, the best practices model recommended by the national drug court institute (NDCI). All 10 key components of nadcp drug court standards will be met as indicated throughout the project narrative pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Partnerships are outlined in the MOU with the key drug court team members (i.e., judge, probation officer, commonwealths attorney, public defender, drug court coordinator, law enforcement, and treatment provider). Data will be collected at baseline/entry into treatment, 6 months postbaseline, and at discharge from treatment. Data collection will include both quantitative and qualitative measures. Data will be used to guide programming, evaluate outcomes, and develop project sustainability after funding ends.