Project Grant H79TI086386

DALLAS COUNTY GRANT TO EXPAND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT CAPACITY IN ADULT DRUG COURTS - THE DALLAS COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT SERVICES IN EXISTING ADULT TREATMENT COURTS, WHICH UTILIZE THE DRUG COURT TREATMENT MODEL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG CONTINUUM OF TREATMENT. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AMONG OFFENDERS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS BY PROVIDING STRUCTURED AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT ALONG WITH RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND JUDICIAL MONITORING THAT ASSISTS PARTICIPANTS IN MAINTAINING ABSTINENCE FROM DRUGS AND/OR ALCOHOL. THE GRANT WILL TARGET HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WITH A DIAGNOSED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PARTICIPATING IN A CERTIFIED ADULT TREATMENT COURT. FUNDS WILL INCREASE THE COURTS' ABILITY TO ENHANCE THE AMOUNT OF TREATMENT PROVIDED TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT ROUTINELY RECEIVE LESS THAN THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF TREATMENT. PROVIDING THE PARTICIPANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STABILIZE AND DETOX IN A HEALTHY TREATMENT CENTERED FACILITY IS VITAL TO THEIR SUCCESS. CURRENTLY MANY PARTICIPANTS WAIT IN JAIL UP TO 3-4 MONTHS FOR TREATMENT. THIS FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE JAIL WAIT TIME FOR TREATMENT TO BE REDUCED. ADDITIONALLY, WITHOUT FUNDING MANY WILL NOT RECEIVE THE CHANCE FOR INTENSIVE TREATMENT OR WILL ONLY RECEIVE A MINIMAL AMOUNT (7-10 DAYS), WHICH RESEARCH HAS SHOWN IS INEFFECTIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE FUNDS WILL INCREASE THE COURTS' ABILITY TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO VIOLATIONS DIRECTLY RELATED TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, AS WELL AS, INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PARTICIPANTS JOURNEYING THROUGH RECOVERY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENTS. PARTICIPANTS WILL BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL TREATMENT INCLUDING RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND PROGRAM COORDINATION. ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO RECEIVE ONE ON ONE PEER SERVICES. THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WILL ENHANCE THE CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT AND CARE AND ON-GOING RECOVERY AS MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE LITTLE FAMILY SUPPORT. THE EXPANDED TREATMENT AVAILABILITY WILL NOT ONLY DIRECTLY BENEFIT PARTICIPANTS BUT HAVE AN EXPONENTIAL IMPACT ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN DALLAS COUNTY. DR. JENNIFER GONZALEZ WILL CARRY OUT THE REQUIRED PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT, WITH AN EMPHASIS IN DEMONSTRATING BENEFITS OF CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS TO REMAIN ABSTINENT FROM DRUG USE AFTER TREATMENT HAS ENDED. THE PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO SERVE 35 NEW PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR AND 175 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.