Washington county specialty court drug court enhancement: family-centered care integration

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.

Abstract

Washington/madison county adult treatment drug court: family-centered enhancement the washington/madison county adult treatment drug court (wmcatdc) family-centered enhancement expands substance use treatment, medication access, overdose prevention, and recovery support for justice-involved adults with substance use disorders (suds) across washington and madison counties in northwest arkansas, and embeds structured family-centered services for the majority of participants who are parents. Operated by the washington county drug court (continuously operational since 1999) with independent evaluation by the university of arkansas for medical sciences (uams), the project will serve a minimum of 100 unduplicated participants per year (500 over five years), with service delivery beginning within four months of award. Geographic area and population. The catchment is washington and madison counties two adjoining counties anchored by fayetteville and extending east into the rural ozarks, where madison county is a federally designated mental-health professional shortage area with sparse behavioral-health and SUD capacity. Participants are justice-involved adults, generally ages 18-55, who are medium-to-high risk and high need. Their primary condition is a diagnosed SUD (opioids, methamphetamine, and alcohol predominating), with high rates of CO-occurring depression, anxiety, and ptsd; more than 75% report significant lifetime trauma, and a majority are parents or caregivers, including many fathers. Strategies and interventions. The project delivers the evidence-based adult drug-court model through a single, recovery-oriented system of care: validated screening and assessment (rant, gain-SS, TCU); moral reconation therapy and motivational interviewing; full access to FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (buprenorphine, naltrexone; methadone by referral) and alcohol use disorder with comprehensive medication management; trauma-specific treatment (seeking safety, DBT, and referral to prolonged exposure, TF-CBT, and emdr); universal take-home naloxone with overdose-recognition training; on-site infectious-disease testing and linkage; and recovery support services including recovery housing, peer support, childcare, and transportation. The family-centered enhancement pairs the reaching parents and myte trauma-psychoeducation curricula within the strengthening families protective factors framework, supported by faith- and community-based partners, a family-centered peer specialist, and a family social worker. Project goals. (1) expand treatment capacity across washington and rural madison counties; (2) deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed care with full moud/maud access; (3) prevent overdose and infectious disease; (4) embed family-centered services to strengthen protective factors and interrupt intergenerational trauma; and (5) sustain quality through gold-standard data. Measurable objectives. ≥100 unduplicated participants enrolled annually; 100% screened with individualized, level-of-care-matched plans; moud/maud available across outpatient and residential settings from quarter 1; 100% of participants offered naloxone and overdose training; ≥4 recovery-oriented family engagement events per year; ≥90% of staff trained in the strengthening families framework by quarter 1; and suprt-administrative and suprt-client/caregiver measures reported through spars at every required point (intake, 6-month, 12-month/annual, closeout) with ≥90% reassessment and 100% of closeouts entered within 30 days. Progress is judged quarterly through rapid-cycle continuous quality improvement.