“The SAMHSA grant enables the Eighth Judicial District treatment court program to continue to make progress to address the substance abuse and mental health crisis in our community.” said Chief Judge Jerry Wiese.

The Eighth Judicial District Court has received $4 million in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants that will have a significant impact in our community. The court REST Program (Recovery thru Entering Substance Use Disorder and/or Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment) has been awarded a $2 million SAMHSA grant, over a five-year period. Annually, the Eighth Judicial District Court will receive $400,000 to be used for residential and intensive outpatient treatment with recovery housing, and lift more individuals out of the cycle of crime related to substance use and co-occurring disorders. The grant funds will be available to Adult Drug Court, Transitional Age Program, The OPEN Program, Veterans Treatment Court, Co-Occurring Disorder Court,  Felony DUI, and participants 18 and older involved in Juvenile Drug Court. The grant funds are slated to serve 15 participants in inpatient and 25 participants in outpatient treatment with recovery housing to reach a total of 40 participants in year one of the five-year grant.

The Eighth Judicial District Court HOPE Program- Helping with Opportunities for Parents to Engage in Treatment Services  also  received a $2 million Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant for a five-year period. The funding is to increase residential treatment and bed placement capacity to support the development of a healthy family dynamic, allowing parents access to residential treatment while having their children remain with them, keeping the family unit in place. The plan is to serve 35 individuals annually and 175 over the five-year span of the grant.

The goals of adult treatment courts are to reduce criminal activity through participant completion and graduation from the program based on a continuum of care. Participants take part in treatment, recovery support, educational and vocational training, obtain employment and secure stable housing. All Rise, formerly the National Association of Drug Court Professionals research indicates that treatment court participants have significantly higher rates of success in programs that offer a continuum of care for substance misuse treatment.

“The SAMHSA grant enables the Eighth Judicial District treatment court program to continue to make progress to address the substance abuse and mental health crisis in our community.” said Chief Judge Jerry Wiese. “The federal monies will improve participants’ odds for a successful recovery, to then lead lives as contributing members of our community who are supportive to their loved ones.” Congress established the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 1992 to make substance use and mental disorder information, services and research more accessible.