The fourth judicial circuit of florida is seeking category 2 funding to enhance its veterans treatment court programs (VTCS)

The City of Jacksonville, Florida has been awarded a $899,660 federal Project Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program (CFDA 16.043) to enhance veterans treatment court (VTC) programs in Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. The 48-month project will expand the VTC's coordinated, multi-system approach by increasing clinical providers, transitional housing and transportation options, and utilizing evidence-based assessments and recovery models. The goal is to address barriers and social determinants of health for 200 veteran participants, ultimately reducing substance dependence, improving mental health, and enhancing care coordination. Key activities include hiring court coordinators and case managers, expanding treatment services, implementing peer mentor programs, and enhancing data collection and evaluation.

VTCS existing coordinated, multi-system approach will be expanded to include additional providers and evidence-based practices. By increasing the number of partnered clinical providers, expanding the transitional housing and transportation options, and utilizing validated trauma, risk, and needs assessments to implement the dare to dream recovery capital model developed by the national drug court institute; this project will seek to address and remove barriers to long-term success. The outcomes of this project will reflect a reduction in substance dependence, improved mental health stability, and improved care coordination; thus, reducing the social determinants of health (SDOH) challenges facing our veterans. Funding is being requested in the amount of $899,660.00 allocated among the VTCS in duval county, clay county, and nassau county. VTC is a combination of pre-trial and post-plea/adjudication case types that targets adults arrested for non-violent offenses with service-related substance use disorders, mental disorders, CO-occurring disorders, or injuries such as post traumatic stress (PTS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and military sexual trauma (MST). VTC operates in clay county at 825 N. Orange avenue, green cove springs, FL 32043; duval county at 501 west adams street, jacksonville, florida 32202, and nassau county at 76347 veterans way, yulee, FL 32097. 200 veterans will be served during the 48-month project, 40 in clay county, 135 in duval county, and 25 in nassau county. The minimum participation requirement is 12 months, the average is 15-17 months. There is no official maximum time allotment. VTC affirms access and existing use of all evidence-based withdrawal and treatment services. VTC conducts clinical assessments utilizing asam/DSM criteria. Providers utilize services such as outpatient group and individual therapy, residential treatment, recreational therapy, and medication assisted treatment. Through this project, VTC will partner with additional clinical services providers. This projects efforts are aligned to expand diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and will address behavioral health disparities through use of the equity and inclusion assessment tool (EIAT). VTC abides by the ten key components of veterans courts.