Albany county court supervised treatment program enhancement project - albany county, wyoming is requesting a samhsa treatment drug court grant in the amount of $1,682,495.00 for five years of funding…

Albany county court supervised treatment program enhancement project - albany county, wyoming is requesting a samhsa treatment drug court grant in the amount of $1,682,495.00 for five years of funding to continue developing the albany county court supervised treatment program (accstp), an adult drug court, which will include a driving under the influence (DUI) track. Accstp provides an alternative sentencing option for high-risk substance users who have committed criminal offenses to reduce the court system recidivism rate and return productive individuals to our community. The accstp was established in 2004 as a result of an identified GAP in available resources and services available to defendants within the albany county criminal justice system with drug and/or alcohol charges or drug related crimes. The goal of accstp is to increase access and availability of substance abuse services, including medically assisted treatment (mat) to adults within albany county that are eligible and accepted into the program through formal intake assessments, according to the adult drug court model and best practices, as well as an evidenced-based continuum of care for accstp participants. The accstp serves albany county, wyoming, the fifth largest populous county in the state with a land area of approximately 4,300 square miles and a population of approximately 37,600 people in 2020, making IT "rural" as federally designated. In 2019 accstp served 17 clients, and has almost returned to these pre-pandemic numbers having served 33 clients in 2022, with referrals increasing over 100% from 2021 to 2022. This initiative is aimed at stabilizing the four major dimensions that support a life in recovery; health, home, purpose and community for accstp participants through an evidence-based clinical treatment program. In the quarter ending december 31, 2022, 17 defendants were referred to the program by the prosecutor and defense attorney, with 82% potentially eligible for accstp participation. In quarter 3 and 4 of FY22 samhsa gpra survey intake rates were at 90% compliance and six month follow up surveys were at 84.6% compliance. While eligible individuals do not automatically qualify for accstp - their level of need, recommended treatment requirements and individual circumstances all must be assessed - this demonstrates the immediate need for the expansion of accstp. In albany county, there are no alternatives to incarceration, similar programs do not exist and limited resources are available, including in-patient treatment options for a high-risk high-needs individual engaged in the criminal justice system. Without accstp, there are currently two outcomes available to them; 1). Be placed in a detention facility (i.e. local or state correctional facilities), or 2). Out-of-community in-patient treatment. Additionally, at a state level wyoming has experienced significant cuts that support in-prison treatment and community treatment. With the support of samhsa treatment drug court funds, this enhancement will continue to close the gaps in services in a program that has been proven to be a crucial component in the treatment and sobriety of individuals within albany county.