AADAP’s Drug Court program aims to expand access to care and treatment services for individuals who are within the geographic catchment area of South Los Angeles, Inglewood, and Long Beach (SPA 6 & 8) and eligible under the Inglewood Drug Court, and Long Beach Mental Health/Collaborative Court programs. Over the course of the project, AADAP will aim to serve 400 Court Referred Participants, providing increased access to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services whilst adding at least one more Drug Court to the program in the final program year. In addition to increased access to SUD services, including mental health, medical services, housing, family therapy, employment/job readiness and training, and other supportive services, the following goals will also be attained:
-Increased language access, with culturally specific and culturally competent SUD treatment services.
-Improved retention and completion rates in the Drug Court and Mental Health/Collaborative Courts.
-A reduction in recidivism into the criminal justice system, with reintegration as productive members of the community.
Furthermore, AADAP will increase the number of bilingual and diverse SUD Counselors, training them in culturally and clinically supported evidence-based practices to promote engagement, retention, and sustainable change-behavior in treatment. Using the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) to assess for SUD DSM Diagnosis and appropriate level of care, upon enrollment, treatment plans and goals will be collaboratively created with clients and their SUD Counselor. The program will also offer additional services such as primary healthcare, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and psychiatric care. The program's Project Director will oversee and supervise the Court Liaisons and SUD Counselors, strengthen relationships with court officials and treatment providers while representing the project in various networking and planning meetings. Bilingual SUD Counselors will serve as clinical case managers, providing a therapeutic responsibility that promotes continuity in care and engagement, offering concrete outcomes for tangible progress in the recovery process. The program aims to ensure equitable access to drug courts for racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority groups.