Building Community Connections for Problem-Solving Courts

BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS EXCELLENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

OBJECTIVES Understand why broad community engagement is vital to problem-solving court operations. Review strategies for engaging the community in the operation of the drug court. Identify potential resources that may be available to your participants through broader community engagement. Develop a preliminary plan for engaging the community and expanding available resources

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? Working in a team of two to three and using the scrap paper provided, write a definition of sustainability as it relates to your treatment court. Share your definition with the people around you. Are there common themes?

KEY COMPONENT #10 Forging partnerships among drug courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations generate local support and enhance drug court program effectiveness.

PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS NEED Participants Talented and committed team members Substance abuse and mental health treatment Drug testing Skill-building classes including parenting Educational and job training Transportation Safe and sober housing Incentives Community service and job placement sites Domestic violence programing

PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS NEED Medical and dental treatment Sober recreational opportunities Money for staff and programing Court space and court staff Political support Positive press Accurate data collection and reporting Evaluation support Training

DATA Use data to: ensure you are serving the appropriate target population. identify what your court participants and courts need. access services and supports. demonstrate utilization of services. demonstrate efficacy of your program. garner support. get money!

How are you going to ensure that your problem-solving court and court participants get all the resources they need?

MAPPING COMMUNITY RESOURCES EXERCISE Law Enforcement/Probation _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ Recreational/Libraries _____________________ _____________________ Mental Health Services ________________________ ________________________ Family Therapy _____________________ _____________________ Government Agencies/Officials ____________________________ ____________________________ Social Services ____________________ ____________________ Service/Community Organizations _____________________ _____________________ Community Foundations _______________________ _______________________ Faith Community _____________________ _____________________ DRUG COURT Housing _____________________ _____________________ Schools/Colleges/Universities _______________________ _______________________ Clothing _____________________ _____________________ Mentoring Programs _____________________ _____________________ Employment/Job Training _____________________ ________________________ Health _____________________ _____________________ Treatment _____________________ _____________________ Literacy Programs _____________________ _____________________ Transportation _____________________ _____________________ Businesses _____________________ _____________________ Domestic Violence _____________________________ _____________________________

CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT What do your participants and court need? It is available but you are not currently accessing Outreach to partners to find out how your participants can begin accessing Figure out what is in it for them to provide the service It is not available and needs to be developed Is there another agency or group which has already conducted/is conducting a needs assessment and identified the same gap? Is there an existing agency that would be interested in developing? Co-develop the request for funds You are supplying the consumers and supervision, they are providing the specialized service

FUNDING State Funding Medicaid and Managed Care Insurance/Affordable Care Act Counties and Municipalities Client fees Establishing a Non-profit Entity

PARTNERING State Agency Partners Law Enforcement and Probation Treatment Partners Community Organizations Partnering with non-profits, foundations, service organizations and private business

PARTNERING Work with providers to identify areas for cooperative development Identify potential funding partnerships including grant opportunities (especially non court-based grants) Develop pilot projects

PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Quantify their impact on client engagement, progress and outcomes. Recognize the value of providers of services at court graduations and in formal correspondence to head offices. Meet and check in regularly with partners. Data sharing. Maintain communication to maintain TRUST.

PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Develop a vibrant problem-solving court advisory committee Participate in community collaboratives Invite current and potential partner agencies to observe court Develop a group of graduates who are willing and able to present at community meetings Chamber of Commerce Bar Association Animal Clubs Women s groups

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES Build a media strategy and crisis response plan. Build community understanding by inviting the court staff, community leaders and the media to planning sessions, courtroom hearings, graduations, and alumni events . Communication involves not just the message, but the messenger. Communicate research and evaluation results, but also individual stories which powerfully personalize the message.

FUNDRAISING Effective strategies are based on information gathering, education, developing relationships, visibility and credibility. Fundraising tools include brochures, historical documents, clear program mission and vision, and clear evidence of effectiveness. Consider working with a professional fundraiser.

NON-PROFIT STATUS Government agencies are non-profits Partner with an existing non-profit with a complementary mission Problem-solving court association Develop your own non-profit

RECEIVING GIFTS What can you accept? Under what circumstances can you accept the gift? Who can accept it? How will you receipt it? How will you secure it? How will you track it? How will you distribute it fairly?

RECAP Maintain good data!! Assess needs Assess existing resources Access broad funding strategies Develop partnerships Develop new resources Track gifts Engage in care and feeding of partnerships Evaluate impact Develop communication strategy Educate everyone Think creatively

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? Your job is to so thoroughly weave your treatment court into the fabric of the community that no one could imagine its elimination.

THANKS! KIRSTIN FRESCOLN KPFRESCOLN@GMAIL.COM