Case Management Services for Anchorage CINA Therapeutic Court - Case management services for the Anchorage CINA (Child in Need of Aid) Therapeutic Court in Alaska (ACTC) will provide wrap-around support to parent participants and their families while in the court program. Services will include: assistance with housing, transportation, job readiness and employment; referrals as needed to classes for financial management, anger management and other services as indicated.
The Case Manager will help the parents maintain compliance with program requirements by monitoring attendance at treatment, recovery and peer support groups, results from urinalysis testing, and connection with a sober sponsor. Eligible applicants will have an open CINA (child welfare) case with an allegation of substantial impairment because of substance use, and will have been professionally assessed as being in significant need of treatment. Internal Court System data from the past 5½ years show that 52% of those admitted identified as Alaska Native/American Indian, 25% as white, and the remainder as multiracial, black/African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and Asians. The highest percentage of parents (35%) were between 30 and 34 years of age, while 75% of the participants identified as female and 25% as male.
The main goals of the proposed project are to improve retention and graduation rates for participants, reduce child welfare and criminal recidivism for those exiting the program, and provide intensive support to the participants and their families while in the program so that after reunification, the parent is financially self-sufficient and has a strong sober support network. Objectives for improving retention and graduation rates include reducing the time between petition filing and admission to treatment as recommended by best practice standards. The ACTC Project Coordinator will closely monitor application and admission procedures and ensure application and consent forms are completed and submitted in a timely manner. As soon as the participant is admitted to the program, the Case Manager will provide assistance for basic needs including housing, bus passes, food, and clothing. Without these barriers, the participant can focus more on treatment and getting sober. During the program, the Case Manager will help the participant address challenges, complementing what the participant learns through SUD treatment. The Case Manager will also monitor participant attendance at recovery and peer support groups, contact with a sponsor and the completion of relapse prevention and post-graduation plans. These will help the participant develop sober support and provide tools for long-term sobriety.
While the child remains in state care, the Case Manager will help the participant parent prepare for trial home visits and the final reunification, paying attention to appropriate home environment, scheduling, and stable income.
The project aims to serve a total of 28 participants in the first year of the grant while the Case Manager learns the job and their activities start to have an impact on the stated goals. By the end of year 2, the project should be able to serve a total of 30 participants, and each year thereafter 35 participants for a total of 163 individuals
