Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
Abstract Fulton County Peer Recovery Support Services Expansion Project The Fulton County Peer Recovery Support Services Expansion Project will serve adult felony offenders with a primary diagnosis of substance use disorder who are deemed eligible for the Accountability Courts (FCAC). FCAC serves historically underserved populations, which includes veterans and African American men (85%). The proposed project is a collaboration with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, who will train CARES (Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist) Peer Mentors to increase program referrals and retention. Many offenders with substance use and mental health disorders from historically underserved population are not being adequately addressed through application of "business as usual." FCAC is fully certified through the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges who use “The Ten Key Components” of Drug Court Standards as a measuring tool for adherence to best practices. Even with strict adherence to these standards and significant oversight from the State, FCAC’s have seen a 35% decrease in enrollment since 2012 and have struggled to retain participants, which demonstrate that a change in strategy is needed. The proposed project will expand access and availability of services to a larger number of clients through introduction of Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS), which are designed and delivered by individuals who have experience with the criminal justice system, have experienced a SUD or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders and are in recovery. CARES Peer Mentors will offer peer support and recovery concepts through the duration of the program and starting while potential participants are still incarcerated and pending adjudication. CARES Peer Mentors will be trained in Motivational Interviewing and will use NIATx to identify areas of process inefficiency. Potential participants will additionally have increased opportunity for vocational training, jobs placement, and funds for GED testing to increase educational attainment through partnerships with Goodwill of North Georgia and Atlanta Technical College. FCAC intends to serve an additional (40) participants per year, (200) over the five-year grant cycle and goals of the project include: ¿ Increase number of people who are referred to, and enter FCAC. ¿ Increase percentage of FCAC participants who phase up and graduate FCAC. ¿ Increase capacity to provide wraparound recovery support services. ¿ Fulton County Accountability Courts will realize improved cost-effectiveness. Some of the measurable objectives for the project include: increase # of potential participants identified at Fulton County Jail; increase the degree to which judges specify participation in FCAC in their orders; increase accessibility of recovery support services for all participants; and reduced time from arrest to program entry. The project has a built in evaluation component from Applied Research Services, an Atlanta-based firm who have conducted research and evaluation throughout the country for Accountability Courts.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
