Subject:
Title
Notice of grant award with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for Elevate: Raising Problem Solving to Another Level.
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Recommended Action
Recommended Action
Approval of the notice of grant award with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) for Elevate: Raising Problem Solving to Another Level Grant Project (Elevate).
Project Period: September 30, 2015 to September 29, 2018; Year 1 Budget Period September 30, 2015 to September 29, 2016. Funding for fiscal year 2016 (FY16) is $324,858.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need.
Summary:
SAMHSA has awarded the County the first year of a three (3) year grant for the Elevate program which aims to reduce crime and substance abuse among high risk/high need, nonviolent youthful offenders aged 18-30 who have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder, have experienced trauma, and may also be struggling with a mild co-occurring mental health disorder. Between 2015 and 2018, at least 185 youthful offenders are expected to enroll in Elevate through joint funding from SAMHSA and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
This award is a follow up to a previous joint SAMHSA and BJA award for the YouCan! Program which is scheduled to end September 30, 2015. The YouCan! program provided intensive, evidence-based, gender-specific substance abuse treatment to young adults with prescription drug addictions. The target for participants served was set at 185 over three (3) years. During that period, 192 (104%) eligible participants were referred for evaluation through the grant for which 166 (90%) assessments were completed. Of those, 154 (83%) completed intake and received services through the grant; 39 of these participants have successfully completed the grant treatment and 28 have graduated from Drug Court. At the time of this reporting, 37 participants were still active in treatment; 29 participants that were discharged unsuccessfully remain in Drug Court and have been referred to a higher level of treatment.
The YouCan! grant proposal called for follow up evaluations at six (6) months and twelve (12) months from intake. We maintained an 89% follow up rate at six (6) months and 71% at twelve (12) months, well above the average of other grants with similar reporting requirements. The success rate for the Elevate program is projected to the same or better than the YouCan! program.
Background Information:
The Elevate program is the result of a joint adult drug court solicitation with SAMHSA and BJA to enhance services, coordination, and treatment. Drug courts are part of the larger universe of problem-solving courts, and have been demonstrated to reduce recidivism and substance abuse among high-risk substance abusing offenders and increase their likelihood of successful rehabilitation through:
• early, continuous, and intense treatment;
• close judicial supervision and involvement;
• mandatory and random drug testing;
• community supervision;
• appropriate incentives and sanctions; and
• recovery support services.
BJA and SAMHSA provide drug court applicants the flexibility to identify the most appropriate adult court model on which to base the drug court in order to accommodate the needs and available resources of the jurisdiction.
Fiscal Impact:
The total amount of the year one (1) SAMHSA award is $324,858. There is no match required. A budget resolution will be prepared to add this funding to the FY16 Budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Michael Cooksey, Director, Justice and Consumer Services
Partners:
SAMHSA, BJA, Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, WestCare, Center for Rational Living.