Abstract – Kansas City Municipal Drug Court
SAMHSA Treatment Drug Court FY2023
Summary: The Kansas City, Missouri, Municipal Adult Treatment Drug Court Expansion Project will deliver effective treatment models to individuals experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The 5-year project will integrate multiple evidence-based practices into a comprehensive, customizable treatment model with an increased focus on securing sober, transitional, and/or permanent housing as a key component to long-term recovery. Participants will include adult defendants diagnosed with a substance use disorder as their primary condition, as well as adult defendants who have co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder treatment needs while incarcerated. The Kansas City Municipal Court will partner with First Call, the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, the Resource Development Institute, Benilde Hall, University Health, and Heartland Center for Behavioral Change to implement all project activities.
Project Name: Kansas City, Missouri, Municipal Adult Treatment Drug Court Expansion Project
Populations to be Served: The target population for the KC ATDC Expansion project includes: (1) Kansas City Municipal Drug Court (KCMDC) adult defendants diagnosed with a substance use disorder as their primary condition, particularly those identified as needing immediate treatment, as well as (2) adult defendants who have co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder treatment needs while incarcerated in one of Kansas City’s contracted jail facilities.
Strategies/Interventions: Strategies and interventions will start with screening at First Call using various screening tools (CAGE-AID, Modified Mini Screen) and assessments (ASI, SASSI, SOCRATES) to evaluate co-occurring disorders. Additionally, the Kansas City Municipal Drug Court identifies, assesses, and prioritizes participants who have High Risk/High Needs by utilizing the Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS). First Call staff work with Municipal Drug Court to develop an appropriate treatment plan that combines various treatment plans appropriate for the individual participant, including Sober ME; ME After; AA and NA; Thinking for Change; PTSD Therapy; and other approaches to provide a continuum of treatment and rehabilitation services. Housing, employment support, and other support services are integrated into the comprehensive treatment plan. The Kansas City Health Department will provide screening for a wide range of infectious diseases, along with referral to treatments and supportive services, through the existing STD clinic. Through case management, a comprehensive offering of recovery support services will be available to each participant. The Kansas City Municipal Drug Court has been operating since 2007 in alignment with the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Ten Key Components of a Drug Court.
Project Goals and Measurable Objectives: The goals and objectives of the program include implementing new policies and procedures to ensure an evidence-based program, increasing the number of Drug Court referrals, implementing the URCIA assessment scale to keep participants engaged in the process, increasing the number of Drug Court graduates, and increasing the number of community providers, especially providers that will assist Drug Court participants with substance abuse treatment, mental health services, transitional/residential housing, and other services providing wrap-around services to improve participant’s self-sufficiency during the treatment episode and upon program completion.
Number of People Served: KC ATDC Expansion will serve 40 people per year, and 200 people over the five-year grant period.
