Project Grant H79TI086258

DURHAM COUNTY ADULT DRUG TREATMENT COURT EXPANSION - THROUGH THE PROPOSED PROJECT ENTITLED DURHAM COUNTY ADULT DRUG TREATMENT COURT EXPANSION, THE DURHAM COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESOURCE CENTER WILL (1) INCREASE ACCESS TO SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES BY HIRING A DEDICATED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR SERVING DRUG TREATMENT COURT CLIENTS, (2) PROVIDE MORE INTENSIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR DRUG TREATMENT COURT ENROLLEES BY LAUNCHING A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT GROUP, AND (3) ENHANCE ITS CURRENT RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE POPULATION OF FOCUS BY HIRING A FULL-TIME PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS FOR THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS HIGH-RISK, HIGH-NEED OFFENDERS AS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE NC DIVISION OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS RISK AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT WHOSE CRIMES OR VIOLATIONS OF PROBATION ARE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY MOTIVATED BY DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, RESIDE IN DURHAM COUNTY, HAVE EITHER NON-VIOLENT FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR CHARGES, HAVE A CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE ON DRUGS, AND HAVE A MINIMUM SUSPENDED SENTENCE OF 120 DAYS AFTER ALL JAIL CREDIT. THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR WILL ASSUME PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, AND DEVELOPING PERSON-CENTERED TREATMENT PLANS FOR INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. THIS POSITION WILL DELIVER A BROAD RANGE OF INTENSIVE THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES, RANGING FROM INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY TO MEDICATION EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE REDUCED HOSPITALIZATIONS AND RE-ARRESTS FOR DTC PARTICIPANTS, INCREASED GRADUATION RATES, AND LONGER PERIODS OF ABSTINENCE FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL FOR PARTICIPANTS. THE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST WILL BE A NEW ADDITION TO THE DTC TEAM, OFFERING PERSON-CENTERED, STRENGTHS-BASED SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPANTS. THIS STAFF MEMBER WILL ASSIST WITH A VARIETY OF CLIENT ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS HELPING ENGAGE CLIENTS WITH THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY, CONNECTING THEM TO PROSOCIAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, AND PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO APPOINTMENTS. THE FIRST GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE EXISTING DTC SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT ARRAY WITH A MORE INTENSIVE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT OPTIONS AND ADDITIONAL RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, WHICH WILL BE MEASURED BY HIRING A FULL-TIME, DEDICATED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR AND FULL-TIME PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST BY NOVEMBER 2023 AND LAUNCHING THE SACOT GROUP BY JANUARY 2024. THE SECOND GOAL IS TO INCREASE PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT IN DTC SERVICES TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OUTCOMES. THIS WILL BE MEASURED BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED PARTICIPANTS TO 50 PER YEAR BY THE END OF THE PROJECT AND BY INCREASING THE GRADUATION RATE TO 40% BY THE END OF YEAR 2 AND 50% BY THE END OF YEAR 5. THE THIRD GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO REDUCE JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT FOR DTC PARTICIPANTS. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE DECREASING THE ARREST RATE FOR CURRENT PARTICIPANTS BY 60% BY THE END OF THE PROJECT AND DECREASING THE ARREST RATE FOR DTC PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM BY 60% BY THE END OF YEAR 5. THE PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE 40 CLIENTS IN YEARS 1 AND 2, 45 IN YEARS 3 AND 4, AND 50 BY THE COMPLETION OF YEAR 5 FOR A TOTAL OF 220 OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.