NDCRC Newsletter | July 2020

Newsletter

July 2020

Hot Topic

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, treatment courts have specialized needs in both judiciary and treatment aspects. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) recognizes these needs and has provided criminal justice system guidance for practitioners to adapt processes of treating addiction and preparing participants for reentry into their communities. One specific hurdle for courts has been the adjustment of drug testing protocols to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Read more about options, changes, and solutions to this process here .

Monthly Highlights

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has created a free online learning curriculum: Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals . Learn more about disparities in mental health treatment for minorities and access the training module, resources, publications, and promotional materials here .

Join the National Hispanic & Latino and Native American Indian & Alaskan Native Prevention Technology Transfer Centers for a Virtual Learning Series on the need to enhance services for culturally diverse communities and the importance of recognizing specific needs of these groups. See a list of dates here , or visit the NDCRC calendar for individual session registration.

TTA Collaborative Updates

National Association of Drug Court Professionals

Drug Court U: Office Hours With Carolyn Hardin

NADCP Chief of Training and Research Carolyn Hardin is holding office hours July 16 and 17. Schedule your one-on-one session with Carolyn to ask questions on reopening your program, adapting to the pandemic, or any other treatment court subject. Spaces are limited to secure your spot today!

Active BJA grantees can register now; registration opens to all practitioners July 9.

Learn More

Center for Court Innovation

If you follow debates about the criminal justice system, you've likely heard a lot about trauma. Maybe you've heard that many defendants, victims, and witnesses are suffering from some form of it. But what trauma is and its relationship to the criminal justice system isn't always defined. To try to get some more understanding of these questions, CCI’s New Thinking podcast visited the Make It Happen program in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to profile its innovative approach to working with young men of color affected by violence. Through interviews with participants and practitioners, the episode addresses the intersections of trauma, involvement with the justice system, and the lived experience of race.

Listen to Podcast

Tribal Law & Policy Institute

TLPI has compiled a clearinghouse of resources for American Indian and Native Alaskan communities facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian Country COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources page includes resources sorted into categories such as tribal youth, behavioral health, community and self-care, and links to funding opportunities to benefit Healing to Wellness courts.

See Resources

Featured State

Tennessee

The Tennessee Recovery Courts have gone above and beyond in adapting their practices to ensure the lives of those they serve have maintained as much support and normalcy as possible during these times of uncertainty. While most counties have moved to teleconferencing for court visits, a small number have organized drive-through courts, which allow personal face-to-face contact while maintaining social distance. Alternative testing methods such as patch and ankle monitoring have been employed to minimize close contact of urine screens, and phase advancement requirements have been adjusted to accommodate changes in income and class availability. The information sheet below describes these adaptive innovations in more depth.

See Examples of Adaptive Innovations

In Other News

OJJDP Discusses Juvenile Justice with Tribal Leaders

On June 25, 2020, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention met tribal leaders from across the country via web conference for a discussion on the availability of juvenile justice funding to tribal programs and increased partnerships for program expansion. Read the consultation framing paper here, and check in with the OJJDP Tribal Youth Programs and Services website for a recording of the webinar.

COVID-19 Impact on Mental Health and Substance Use

While COVID-19 has created unprecedented stresses for people with mental health and substance use disorders, opioid users are experiencing more severe consequences of these challenges. Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Paul Krupski, Director of Opioid Initiatives at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, sat down with Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss spikes in opioid overdoses and the social and medical reasons they might be occurring. Listen to the interview here .