Project Grant H79TI088952

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $399,999 to Washington County on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490) to expand and enhance the Washington/Madison County Adult Treatment Drug Court.

The project delivers evidence-based adult drug court services to justice-involved adults with substance use disorders across Washington and Madison Counties in northwest Arkansas, serving a minimum of 100 unduplicated participants annually over the five-year performance period (500 total). The Washington County Drug Court, continuously operational since 1999, operates the program with independent evaluation by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Service delivery began within four months of award.

The catchment encompasses two adjoining counties anchored by Fayetteville, extending east into the rural Ozarks. Madison County is a federally designated mental-health professional shortage area with limited behavioral-health and substance use disorder capacity. Participants are generally ages 18–55, medium-to-high risk and high need, with diagnosed substance use disorders (opioids, methamphetamine, and alcohol predominating) and high rates of co-occurring depression, anxiety, and PTSD. More than 75 percent report significant lifetime trauma; the majority are parents or caregivers.

The program integrates validated screening and assessment (RANT, GAIN-SS, TCU), moral reconation therapy, motivational interviewing, and full access to FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder including buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone by referral. It embeds structured family-centered services as a core intervention for the majority of participants who are parents.

Place of performance is Fayetteville, Arkansas. The award period runs through September 29, 2031.