Newsletter
October 2020
What's Happening at NDCRC?
NEW! Justice to Healing Podcast

In October, the NDCRC is releasing its original podcast, Justice to Healing! Episodes will feature an emerging topic within the treatment court field from the perspective of experts, academics, and practitioners. October’s episode is an introduction to the NDCRC and the co-directors, Dr. Kristen DeVall and Dr. Christina Lanier. If you'd like to hear more about a particular subject or suggest future topics, please reach out to us on social media or send us an email at ndcrc@uncw.edu.

NEW! Advisory Board

The NDCRC recently created an Advisory Board composed of experts within the treatment court field. The Advisory Board’s mission is to provide expertise, guidance, and insight to NDCRC leadership regarding the fulfillment of its mission, establishing areas of focus, and identifying needed resources for the field. Read more about its members and responsibilities here.
Beyond the Field
Each month the NDCRC will feature a topic relevant to the work of treatment courts. This information is designed to give you “food for thought” regarding your treatment court program's structure and operations and provide supporting multimedia resources.
The Importance of Social Connectedness
Dr. Kristen DeVall

The importance of social connectedness among human beings has been well-documented. Researchers have found physical, emotional, and social benefits for individuals who are and remain connected to others. These same researchers have found profoundly negative outcomes associated with experiencing social isolation.

In these current times, the methods by which individuals connect with each other have taken on multiple forms (e.g., face-to-face, by phone, via cloud-based technology, etc). How is this notion of social connectedness relevant to the treatment court field? It is hoped that the information presented in the multimedia resources featured here will encourage you to examine the ways in which your treatment court program facilitates meaningful social connection between and among participants, team members, and the recovery community through program requirements (e.g., case management sessions, pro-social activities, court review hearings, etc.). It is vital that opportunities for participants to connect with others are maintained.

TEDx Talk by Dr. Emma Seppala

TED Radio Hour by Dr. Susan Pinker
Monthly Highlights
October 6, 2020 2:00 - 3:30 PM EST

Interested in writing a grant for your treatment program but not sure where or how to get started? Join the NDCRC for a webinar to assist you in writing a successful proposal! This webinar will provide an overview of the major components of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Request for Proposals (RFP), as well as provide examples of each required section. NDCRC directors Dr. Christina Lanier and Dr. Kristen DeVall will provide tips for strengthening your proposal and identify common mistakes to avoid.

Questions On Evaluation? Schedule Drug Court U Office Hours!

Schedule virtual office hours with treatment court evaluation experts Dr. Kristen DeVall and Dr. Christina Lanier from the National Drug Court Resource Center to ask your questions on evaluating your treatment court program. Join the experts October 14 or 15 for one-on-one guidance from the experts! Hurry, space is limited!
TTA Collaborative Updates
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Free Implementation Training for Treatment Courts

Registration opens October 5 for adult drug court, tribal healing to wellness court, and veterans treatment court implementation trainings in 2021 from NADCP’s National Drug Court Institute and Justice For Vets. These trainings is designed for courts not yet operating, teams that have had significant staff changes, or teams that have never attended an implementation training before. Learn more and register.

RISE20 On Demand

Time is running out to access the full RISE 20 Virtual On Demand catalogue of sessions. Earn up to 60 hours of continuing education credit while learning from our most sought-after presenters as they share their expertise on topics critical to your program. Registration for the on-demand conference is open now until October 31. Register now.

Exciting News for Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts

NADCP’s National Drug Court Institute officially launched its Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Training and Technical Program. The project offers training and technical assistance to courts and states wishing to implement or enhance their juvenile drug treatment court programs, while also working to implement best practices and enhance the effectiveness for all programs. Join the program’s email Listserv for updates on the project and how you can improve your program. Learn more.
Center for Court Innovation
Murals send a collective message about who we are. Painting creates respite. Theater allows people to get out of their own heads. Singing lowers stress. The arts make us confident, hopeful, and resilient. Based on decades of research and experience, we know that investing in the arts allows communities to thrive.

In their webinar “Arts to Reimagine the System,” CCI gathered artists and organizations for a candid discussion about the various ways arts can help us achieve justice. Through intentional and integrated arts programming, together we can build safer and healthier communities where everybody can live with purpose and dignity.
Tribal Law & Policy Institute
In Crossing the Bridge: Tribal-State-Local Collaboration, TLPI organizes steps “toward initiating discussions across jurisdictions” that should be considered when creating and improving collaborative programs. Collaboration with tribal partners requires knowledge of unique history and culture to build trust for successful partnerships and ensure strong connectivity.
Featured State
Washington

The state of Washington is home to 112 treatment courts in 29 of its 39 counties. These programs are supported by Washington’s Criminal Justice Treatment Account, certain tax increases, expanded Medicaid, and other training and technical assistance programs. Read more about treatment court success in Washington here.
In Other News
Using Social Connectedness to Fight Opioid Addiction

A Pittsburgh church uses social connectedness to fight opioid addiction and improve recovery in their community in this article from PublicSource.

Community Connections Directly Affect LGBTQ+ Substance Use Recovery in Minneapolis

This article from April 2020 in MinnPost describes the challenges of social connectedness and recovery during these times.

Importance of Promoting Social Connectedness

See the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s research on the importance of promoting social connectedness, plus articles, references, and webinars.