The purpose of this program is to provide funding to counties with which they can plan, implement, or expand initiatives that increase public safety, avert increased spending on criminal and juvenile justice systems, decrease admissions to the state forensic hospital, and improve the accessibility and effectiveness of treatment services for adults and juveniles who have a mental illness, a substance use disorder, or a combination thereof, and who are in, or at risk of entering, the criminal or juvenile justice systems.
For the 2014 funding cycle, the Department has identified two potential Target Populations, Adults or Youth. Applications for funding can focus on either population and must demonstrate collaborative efforts between criminal justice and behavioral healthcare systems as well as the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. Funding must be used for interventions designed to shift the identification, care and treatment of the Target Population from the criminal or juvenile justice systems to the behavioral healthcare system.
The Program requires the selection of one Target Population, either Adult or Youth, and Grantees are strongly encouraged, but not required, to implement one of the following types of service models:
- Evidence-based programs (i.e. Assertive Community Treatment; Supported Employment, Modified
- Therapeutic Program, Permanent Supportive Housing);
- Evidence-based practices (i.e. Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy);
- Promising programs (i.e. Forensic ACT; Forensic Intensive Case Management – FICM, 12-Step or
- Peer-based Recovery Support); or
- Promising practices (i.e. Cognitive Behavioral Treatment targeting criminogenic risks or Forensic Peer Specialists, Contingency Management).Programs are intended to implement, expand, or enhance one or more Centralized Coordination Projects that will divert members of the targetpopulation from arrest, prosecution, or incarceration to substance abuse or mental health treatment orprevention services.
In order for grant initiatives to be successful, the types of services offered and practices used must be effective. Assessment and treatment services and diversion practices to be implemented must incorporate the best objective evidence available regarding effectiveness.
Services developed with Program funds are intended to be sustained beyond the time of the grant. There are several strategies to enhance sustainability; clarifying long-term goals and establishing benchmarks for measuring progress; securing the fiscal resources needed to accomplish long-term goals; developing financing strategies; building broad-based community support; cultivating key champions; writing a formal sustainability plan; and coordinating with existing community-based treatment providers.
None is available.