In July, CSG Justice Center staff continued to assist North Dakota’s core implementation team in establishing the new Community Behavioral Health Program (CBHP), and the team made progress on several key aspects of the CBHP. First, job descriptions were publicly posted for four full-time positions to staff the CBHP (one position at DOCR and three regional positions at DHS). DOCR and DHS are currently conducting interviews for these positions. Secondly, the team made headway in developing a training plan for CBHP vendors, including ensuring that vendors are fluent in core correctional practices, the recovery continuum, working with probation, parole and the courts, and CBHP processes. The first vendor training is tentatively scheduled for the first week in October. Additionally, the worked to finalize performance-based measures for the contracts, looking at how to collect data around the outcomes that will be used to determine incentive payments for vendors.
The core implementation team also conducted its first public meeting on the CBHP in Dickinson, North Dakota, one of four initial pilot sites. The meeting was attended by about 20 community members, including two influential state senators and justice reinvestment champions. The team walked throught CBHP model and answered questions about how the program may work in Dickinson. The audience responded positively and community leaders are planning on re-grouping to determine how the model will be customized for Dickinson’s needs.
North Dakota’s Justice Reinvestment Oversight Committee (JROC) met for the second time in July. During this meeting, the committee heard updates on CBHP implementation progress, discussed DOCR’s pretrial pilot program site selection, and discussed potential subaward funding pieces. Addtionally, DOCR Director Bertsch presented on the prioritization plan, which will limit the number of people county jails can send to state prison. Committee members also finalized a letter that was sent out to county government requesting jail data.
Lastly, CSG Justice Center staff continued to work with the core implementation team and DOCR staff to identify subaward funding items. DOCR is anticipating that the Information Technology Department (ITD) will have a large role in updating current data systems to support the CBHP and worked to put an overview together to send to ITD to get cost estimates. Additionally, DOCR staff attended a webinar hosted by CSG Justice Center staff aimed at preparing state’s to write their subaward applications.
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Meeting with Pam Sagness (Behavioral Health Director, DHS) to discuss implementation planning and prepare for subsequent oversight and public meetings.
Meeting of the justice reinvestment implementation oversight committee meeting with members Leslie Bakken Oliver (General Counsel, Office of the Governor), Leann Bertsch (Director, DOCR), Chris Jones (Director, DHS), Pam Sagness (Director of Behavioral Health, DHS), Chief Justice Vandewalle (North Dakota Supreme Court), Representative Jon Nelson (member, Appropriations Committee), Senator Kelly Armstrong (Chair, Judiciary Committee), and Troy Seibel (Chief Deputy Attorney General, Attorney General's Office), along with Karianne Jackson (JR Coordinator, DOCR), Dr. Lisa Peterson (Behavioral Health Director, DOCR), Frank Racek (District Court Judge, Cass County), and Samantha Kramer (Counsel, ND Legislative Council). The committee discussed the plans to pilot the CBHP, data collection at the county level, and funding ideas for the BJA subaward.
Public meeting in Dickinson, ND hosted by Pam Sagness (Behavioral Health Director, DHS), Karianne Jackson (JR Coordinator, DOCR), and Dr. Lisa Peterson (Behavioral Health Director, DOCR) to introduce the CBHP to the community, obtain feedback on the model, and encourage community leaders to begin to plan for pilot implementation. The meeting was attended by Senator Kelly Armstrong (Chair, Judiciary Committee), Senator Rich Wardner (Senate Majority Leader), and about 20 service providers and interested community members.
Meeting with Pam Sagness (Behavioral Health Director, DHS), Karianne Jackson (JR Coordinator, DOCR), and Dr. Lisa Peterson (Behavioral Health Director, DOCR) to debrief after the public meeting.
Meeting with Steve Bourgois (Business Analyst, DOCR) to discuss CBHP data collection and a program tracking system.
Meeting with Karianne Jackson (JR Coordinator, DOCR) to plan meeting follow-up, discuss future activities, and discuss BJA subaward funding application
Joint meeting with Steve Bourgois (Business Analyst, DOCR) and Karianne Jackson (JR Coordinator, DOCR) to pull together ideas on how to move forward with applying for BJA subaward funding for the CBHP data system.
• 7/6 - Call with Spirit Lake Planning Director to discuss the CBHP and the behavioral health and other challenges faced on the Spirit Lake Reservation.
• 7/6 - Call with North Dakota Supreme Court Director of Education to discuss North Dakota's fall judicial education conference and how best to update judges about justice reinvestment policies.
• 7/7 - Call with DOCR JR Coordinator to the upcoming CBHP public meetings and BJA subaward funding.
• 7/7 - Call with North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Clinical Director, North Dakota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division Director, and DOCR JR Coordinator to plan for the upcoming public meeting in Dickinson, ND and contracting with community providers for the CBHP.
• 7/7 - Call with DOCR Director, and DOCR JRI Coordinator to check-in on the JR project and to discuss implementation plans.
• 7/24 - Call with North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Clinical Director, North Dakota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division Director, and DOCR JR Coordinator to discuss training for CBHP contractors and outcome performance measures.
• 7/26 - Webinar with DOCR JR Coordinator, DOC Administrative Director, DOCR Business Analyst, and DOCR Clinical Director to provide guidance on applying for BJA subaward funding.
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