Our Drug Court is in transition. Some of the issues are personnel related, i.e.Dept of Public Health staff and the fact that the court has a visiting judge overseeing Drug Court. Some are related to the need for programmatic changes. Overall, we are very interested in improving our graduation rate which resides steadily at 23%.
Our court is interested in undertaking an on-site evaluation' - that we bring in an outside expert to review the program, talk to the team. We want to ensure that the treatment team is truly engaging in evidence based practices, that they use curriculum based CBT and DBT and trauma informed care, that our intensive outpatient program can handle high risk, high need cases.
Please check the box next to the following questions if the answer is 'yes'.
Referred to American University
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Please submit a signed letter of support from your agency’s executive or other senior staff member. The letter can be emailed to or uploaded with this request. The letter should be submitted on official letterhead and include the following information:
- General information regarding the request for TTA services, i.e., the who, what, where, when, and why.
- The organizational and/or community needs specific to the request for TTA services.
- The benefits or anticipated outcomes from the receipt of TTA services.
By submitting this application to BJA NTTAC, I understand that upon approval of this application for TTA, the requestor agrees to keep BJA NTTAC informed of any circumstances that may impact the delivery of the TTA, including changes in the date of the event, event cancellation, or difficulties communicating with the assigned TTA provider.
Please call [site:phone] if you need further assistance completing this application.
Sent e-mail to Ms. Lightman on 5.24.13 requesting a conference call for next week. Also sent assessment form and asked her to fill it out and send it back to me. Call with requester on May 28th. On June 20th received e-mail from Angela stating that Tim Jeffries recommended that we contact Caroline Cooper from American University for this TA request. In his e-mail to Angela, Tim copied Caroline. Caroline thought that she was able to contact the requester on her own and did so. Ms. Lightman contacted me with some concerns over the conversation with Caroline and subsequently sent an e-mail to Caroline on 7.3.13 outlining her needs for the TA request. I sent an e-mail to both Lisa and Caroline on 7.8.13 asking to facilitate a call between the two of them on 7.10.13. So far only Lisa has responded that she can attend the call. Call was held on 7.10.13 and both parties are still far apart on the needs of the request and what can be provided. Spoke to Becky Rose on 7.16.13 and her suggestion was to include Tim Jeffries in on another call to help facilitate request. Schedules are booked this week but trying to schedule a call for week of 7.22.13. Call with Lisa Lightman and Caroline Cooper from AU on 7.23.13. Tim Jeffries was unable to be on the call. Lisa and Caroline were able to come to a resolution that Lisa would seek a researcher to do an audit of current drug treatment processes and give training on best practices from a research perspective. Then AU will come in and provide training to the team to bring all the information together and have practical implementation of theories learned. Since case has been successfully referred to AU, case is being closed.
a:27:{s:32:"field_what_event_has_occurred_th";s:127:"Need to increase our grad rate. Conflict between PD and clinical team around roles/responsibilities, the use of best practices.";s:32:"field_what_do_you_want_to_achiev";s:657:"The goal for this request is to increase the effectiveness of program operations and client outcomes. This would require the Drug Court team to understand, absorb and utilize many of the evidence based practices that are available in the field. Because DPH has oversight of the clinical team, the court is challenged by how to impose these practices on the case managers. There is also a feeling of burn out or tiredness among the team members – despite attending trainings or conferences. This TA request is to bring a subject matter expert – an outsider to San Francisco – to come and observe the program and to provide feedback to the team. ";s:32:"field_what_will_happen_if_this_n";s:32:"The problem will likely persist.";s:32:"field_what_is_the_gap_between_wh";s:3:"N/a";s:32:"field_do_you_have_any_data_to_su";s:46:"Yes, I have attached our current annual report";s:32:"field_have_there_been_previous_a";s:75:"Yes, but the Drug Court Treatment Center has blocked the effort for change.";s:32:"field_have_you_sought_tta_before";s:92:"No. We have had various presenters to try and provide team cohesion but this has not worked.";s:32:"field_who_will_assume_leadership";s:263:"I will (Lisa Lightman, Director of Collaborative Courts). I oversee all adult and youth problem solving court programs for San Francisco Superior Court. This includes program development and enhancement, grant development, community outreach, strategic planning";s:32:"field_how_did_you_learn_about_nt";s:53:"From Julius Lang from the Center for Court Innovation";s:32:"field_what_are_your_organization";s:329:"The Superior Court has a Collaborative Courts Advisory Committee comprised of Judges and Administrative staff. Members of the Advisory Committee made the request for TA as an outgrowth of our discussions about our Drug Court program. The Drug Court program has been in operation since 1995 and is well received in the community.";s:32:"field_what_are_organization_s_we";s:343:"The Drug Court program has a stand-alone treatment center solely for our program. It is funded by and is run by our Dept of Public Health (DPH). The weakness in this construct is that the court has no authority to make the changes in personnel that may be required or to guide the program toward newer approaches in criminal justice treatment";s:32:"field_what_opportunities_does_th";s:122:"There are always opportunities for this. More so, it is the willingness of the team to make the changes that are necessary";s:32:"field_what_are_the_challenges_th";s:657:"The goal for this request is to increase the effectiveness of program operations and client outcomes. This would require the Drug Court team to understand, absorb and utilize many of the evidence based practices that are available in the field. Because DPH has oversight of the clinical team, the court is challenged by how to impose these practices on the case managers. There is also a feeling of burn out or tiredness among the team members – despite attending trainings or conferences. This TA request is to bring a subject matter expert – an outsider to San Francisco – to come and observe the program and to provide feedback to the team. ";s:32:"field_how_will_this_technical_as";s:347:"The TA request from would provide feedback to the team, make suggestions for how to work more effectively with the high risk/high need population that we serve, ensure that the team is working with curriculua that support the fidelity to the curriculum model and provide a report that would be disseminated to all the partner agencies on the team.";s:32:"field_what_is_your_overarching_g";s:657:"The goal for this request is to increase the effectiveness of program operations and client outcomes. This would require the Drug Court team to understand, absorb and utilize many of the evidence based practices that are available in the field. Because DPH has oversight of the clinical team, the court is challenged by how to impose these practices on the case managers. There is also a feeling of burn out or tiredness among the team members – despite attending trainings or conferences. This TA request is to bring a subject matter expert – an outsider to San Francisco – to come and observe the program and to provide feedback to the team. ";s:32:"field_please_list_at_least_two_o";s:276:"To improve team working relationships that would increase program efficiency and effectiveness
To observe or ‘audit’ program operations so that San Francisco’s Drug Court is utilizing the most up to date practices for the high risk high need population that we serve.
";s:32:"field_as_a_result_of_this_tta_wh";s:226:"Our graduation rate improves beyond the 23% that it has been for the past 10 years.
The program is energized, working as a true team, has a road map that describes where it is going and how the program can continue to grow.
";s:32:"field_who_will_be_participating_";s:126:"The TA expert will observe the program, verify what curriculua are being used, will interview team members and case managers.";s:32:"field_what_do_participants_need_";s:16:"Honest feedback.";s:32:"field_what_activities_experience";s:80:"The TA could include some advance webinars, materials for our target population.";s:32:"field_who_supports_you_in_this_e";s:188:"The court is undertaking this request. The court will need to ask the team is they also support this TA request. The court will need to approach DPH administration for additional buy in.";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_i";s:290:"The court is on board. The court will need to write a letter to the leaders in each partner agency requesting their buy-in. This application is the first step in the process. When the court receives a better understanding of what kind of TA is available, then additional steps will be made.";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_p";s:81:"Court, Dept of Public Health, Adult Probation, District Attorney, Public Defender";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_o";s:81:"Court, Dept of Public Health, Adult Probation, District Attorney, Public Defender";s:32:"field_are_there_any_local_govern";s:2:"No";s:32:"field_how_will_your_organization";s:73:"Yes. My office will ensure that the recommendations are carried through.";s:32:"field_what_other_resources_do_yo";s:361:"We currently have a BJA enhancement grant. It is my understanding that 10% of the funds can be used for related issues without providing a budget adjustment. All of our funds are in contractual services. We can utilize this grant to support this effort.
The court also receives another smaller grant that could contribute up to $2000 for this TA request.
";}