Behavioral health service expansion to problem solving courts - lutheran family services proposes to expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services to adults in existing…

Behavioral health service expansion to problem solving courts - lutheran family services proposes to expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services to adults in existing drug courts in nebraska's douglas and sarpy counties, including douglas county veterans treatment court, sarpy county drug court, and sarpy county wellness court. Each court serves individuals assessed as high risk for recidivism and require a high level of need to stabilize and avoid reoffending. Access to healthcare services is a major issue in both counties. Gaps in mental health services, particularly in relation to depression/chronic depression, suicide prevention, social support, obtaining mental health services, housing insecurity, loss of utilities, unhealthy/unsafe housing, and substance abuse. Neither the douglas county nor sarpy county court system employees mental health service providers but depend on community-based providers for the court-involved. Court teams will be comprised of a judge, defense attorney, probation staff, and LFS project personnel including a peer recovery support specialist (with lived experience), care and service coordinator, licensed practical nurse, therapist, and psychiatric prescriber. When possible, the court team will also include a member of law enforcement. The project will provide timely access and recommendations to CO-occurring assessment. LFS will provide behavioral health services to court participants including outpatient and intensive outpatient substance use treatment, mental health counseling, medication management, and medication assisted treatment (mat) for opioid use disorder. Following a prescreening process, eligible participants will be identified early and promptly placed in the treatment court program. Abstinence will be monitored by frequent alcohol and other drug testing. The court team will review participant progress on a weekly basis during team meetings and use email to communicate important changes between team meetings. The veterans treatment court will recognize compliance and progress using challenge coins to show transition from one program phase to another, and the drug court will recognize compliance and progress using a phase system which requires completion of specific program tasks and a contingency management system to recognize growth from week to week. Monitoring and evaluation will measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness and whether the court program was designed in line with best practice standards. Forging partnerships among drug courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations will generate local support and enhance drug court program effectiveness. This will result in a reduction in substance use behaviors and participants' increased ability to live a balanced and productive life.