Subject:
Title
Interlocal Agreement Between Pinellas County and the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for the Adult Drug Court Expansion Program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Interlocal Agreement with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for the Adult Drug Court (ADC) Expansion Program.
• This Interlocal provides funding for the expansion of the ADC program, supporting evidence-based substance use disorder treatment for drug-involved offenders, including those with neurotrauma.
• The Court is the designated implementing agency and will hire one full-time Grant Worker (FTE) and provide 0.20 FTE of a Drug Court Manager as in-kind personnel to oversee the program. This agreement ensures compliance with SAMHSA guidelines and aligns with federal grant requirements. The County serves as the fiscal agent for the Grant.
• The Board previously approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on June 11, 2024, establishing the legal framework for County-funded court employees. The Board also approved the grant application and subsequent Notice of Award (NOA) under Legistar file 24-1636A and agreement with the service provider Westcare Gulfcoast-Florida Inc., # 24-2185A.
• Funding in an amount not to exceed $71,391.00 annually has been provided by Grant # 1H79TI087284-01 from Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. No grant match is required. The $71,391.00 was added to the Court's FY25 Revised Budget through a budget resolution and is included in the FY26 Proposed Budget. The agreement includes a fiscal non-funding clause should Grant funding become unavailable.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Smart Service Delivery
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement
Summary:
Summary
This Interlocal Agreement provides funding for the Adult Drug Court Expansion Program in partnership with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
The program expands substance use disorder treatment capacity for individuals in the Adult Drug Court, aiming to reduce recidivism and support long-term recovery. This agreement is necessary to comply with SAMHSA grant requirements.
This agreement allows the Court to hire one full-time Grant Worker (FTE) and dedicate 0.20 FTE of a Drug Court Manager as in-kind personnel. The County serves as the fiscal agent for the grant, reimbursing the Court for personnel and operational costs.
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Background Information:
The Adult Drug Court Expansion Program is designed to enhance treatment capacity for individuals involved in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court’s Adult Drug Court, a specialized court program that provides judicial oversight, substance use disorder treatment, and support services to eligible participants.
Pinellas County, in partnership with the Court, applied for and received funding through the SAMHSA FY 2024 Grant to support this expansion. As the fiscal agent, the County will reimburse the Court for one full-time Grant Worker (FTE) and provide funding for operational costs, training, and travel related to the program. The Court will also contribute 0.20 FTE of a Drug Court Manager as in-kind personnel, serving as the Project Director.
The program will serve approximately 200 unduplicated adults over five years (40 per year) and is expected to improve outcomes such as reduce recidivism, improve treatment outcomes, and promote long-term recovery through evidence-based interventions.
The Adult Drug Court has a proven track record of reducing incarceration rates and improving public safety by offering treatment-focused alternatives to traditional sentencing. This expansion will allow the program to increase its capacity and reach more participants, ensuring greater access to critical services.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in an amount not to exceed $71,391.00 annually has been provided by Grant # 1H79TI087284-01 from Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. No grant match is required.
The $71,391.00 was added to the Court's FY25 Revised Budget through a budget resolution and is included in the FY26 Proposed Budget. The agreement includes a fiscal non-funding clause should Grant funding become unavailable.
The remaining grant award totaling $328,609.00 is allocated as follows: $309,403.00 to WestCare GulfCoast-Florida, Inc., and $19,206.00 to support the County’s Grant Worker Analyst position.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Amendment is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Sixth Judicial Circuit Court
Westcare
SAMHSA
Attachments:
Interlocal Agreement
Appendices