Subject:
Title
Notice of grant award with the Bureau of Justice Assistance for Elevate: Raising Problem Solving to Another Level.
Recommended Action
Recommended Action:
Approval and execution of the notice of grant award with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for Elevate: Raising Problem Solving to Another Level Grant Project (Elevate).
Project Period: 10/01/2015 - 09/30/2018. Budget Period: 10/01/2015 to 09/30/2018. Grant award applicable to fiscal year 2016 (FY16) is $100,072.08.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need.
Summary:
BJA has awarded the County 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 ages 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 BJA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
This award is a follow up to a previous joint SAMHSA and BJA award for the YouCan! program which was scheduled to end on 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. The program 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 be the same or better than the YouCan! program.
Background/Explanation:
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 BJA award is $299,491.19 over three (3) years. Funding allocated for FY16 is estimated at $100,072.08 and will be requested to be added to the FY16 budget via budget resolution. There is a 25% match required which is being supplied by a portion of the Drug Court personnel’s salaries and benefits as well as a percentage of the case management system already in use by the County Court. The matching funds are already included in the FY16 adopted budget.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this award is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Lourdes Benedict, Director, Human Services
Partners:
BJA
SAMHSA
Sixth Judicial Circuit Court
WestCare